The Settlement of the The Settlement of the WestWest

The Plains IndiansThe Plains Indians

• Treaty of Fort Laramie- 1851; US Govt. promised several tribes land in the Plains; in return, the tribes promised not to attack settlers and allowed the Govt. to build roads in the territory; the Govt. broke its promise when it heard that the land was fertile and “full” of minerals

Buffalo soldiers- 4,000 African Buffalo soldiers- 4,000 African American soldiers who served American soldiers who served in the US Army and enforced in the US Army and enforced

Indian removal while serving in Indian removal while serving in segregated unitssegregated units

Old and New Indian PoliciesOld and New Indian Policies

• The Removal Policy- 1820’s/30’s, the government pushed the Indians living east of the Mississippi River into the Great Plains.

Reservation Policy- 1865, Reservation Policy- 1865, Indians were gathered into large Indians were gathered into large areas that would belong to them areas that would belong to them and were told whites would not and were told whites would not

bother thembother them

Major BattlesMajor Battles

• Chivington, or Sand Creek Massacre- 1864; The Cheyenne Indians were tired of fighting the government over the land and decided to surrender; 700 army troops attacked the tribe and killed 450 women and children

Washita MassacreWashita Massacre: In 1868 the : In 1868 the Cheyenne and Arapaho were Cheyenne and Arapaho were attacked in a similar way. This attacked in a similar way. This

took place in present day took place in present day Oklahoma. The Indians were Oklahoma. The Indians were

forced to settle on reservationsforced to settle on reservations

Battle of Little Big Horn-1876, Battle of Little Big Horn-1876, fought between Sioux Indians fought between Sioux Indians and General Custer's army. and General Custer's army. Custer was surrounded and Custer was surrounded and killed. Shortly after his entire killed. Shortly after his entire

company was wiped out.company was wiped out.

Chief Joseph and Nez Perces-Chief Joseph and Nez Perces-1877, Nez Perces agreed to 1877, Nez Perces agreed to move to a reservation, but move to a reservation, but

before the did some Indians before the did some Indians killed some whites, they fled, killed some whites, they fled,

but were forced to surrender 30 but were forced to surrender 30 miles from Canada.miles from Canada.

Battle of Wounded Knee- 1890, Battle of Wounded Knee- 1890, fought b/t Army and followers of fought b/t Army and followers of Ghost Dance; 300 Sioux and 30 Ghost Dance; 300 Sioux and 30 US soldiers were killed; marked US soldiers were killed; marked

the end to Indian wars on the the end to Indian wars on the plainsplains

Indian Policy ReformsIndian Policy Reforms

Century of Dishonor- a book Century of Dishonor- a book written by Helen Hunt Jackson written by Helen Hunt Jackson

that criticized the govt. for all the that criticized the govt. for all the broken promises and corrupt broken promises and corrupt

dealings with the Indiansdealings with the Indians

Assimilation laws-1880’s; laws Assimilation laws-1880’s; laws passed to “Americanize” the passed to “Americanize” the

Indians; forced to cut their hair, Indians; forced to cut their hair, dress like Americans, speak dress like Americans, speak English, change their names, English, change their names,

etc.etc.

Dawes Act- 1887; divided Indian Dawes Act- 1887; divided Indian land up and sold most to white land up and sold most to white settlers; Indians were able to settlers; Indians were able to

keep 160 acres but the rest was keep 160 acres but the rest was sold; purpose was to encourage sold; purpose was to encourage

Native Americans to become Native Americans to become farmers…more “American”farmers…more “American”

The Railroad’s Role in the Settling The Railroad’s Role in the Settling of the Westof the West

Pacific Railway Act- 1862; the Pacific Railway Act- 1862; the government gave land to RR government gave land to RR companies to build the Union companies to build the Union

Pacific and Central Pacific Pacific and Central Pacific railroads that would connect railroads that would connect

both coasts.both coasts.

Land Grants- Land ceded to the Land Grants- Land ceded to the railroad companies to railroad companies to

encourage them to get into the encourage them to get into the risky business of risky business of

transcontinental railroad transcontinental railroad building.building.

Two major companies were Two major companies were involved in the constructioninvolved in the construction

Union Pacific- would build Union Pacific- would build westward from Omaha, westward from Omaha,

Nebraska. A large number of Nebraska. A large number of Irish immigrants worked for this Irish immigrants worked for this

line.line.

Central Pacific- would build Central Pacific- would build eastward from California. eastward from California.

Construction began in Construction began in Sacramento, California. A large Sacramento, California. A large number of Chinese immigrants number of Chinese immigrants

were employed by this were employed by this company.company.

The first transcontinental The first transcontinental railroad line was completed in railroad line was completed in 1869. The meeting of these 1869. The meeting of these

lines took place at Promontory lines took place at Promontory Point, Utah. By 1900 there were Point, Utah. By 1900 there were

five transcontinental railroad five transcontinental railroad lines across the west.lines across the west.

Principal Men Involved in Western Principal Men Involved in Western Railroad constructionRailroad construction

• Henry Villard

• Leland Stanford

• Collis P. Huntington

• A business conglomerate

• James J. Hill

• The Northern Pacific Railroad

• The Central Pacific and southern Pacific

• The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe

• The Great Northern

Great Northern DistinctionsGreat Northern Distinctions

1. Last built of the major transcontinental railroad lines

2. Built without federal subsidies

3. The most northern of the lines (Duluth, Minnesota to Seattle, Washington)

4. Work was completed on the Great Northern in 1893

Impact of the Railroad on the WestImpact of the Railroad on the West

• Allowed for faster settlement of the west/helped “develop” the west

• Towns and cities developed along railroad lines which made the economy grow

• Made goods/supplies available to settlers• Provided faster transportation• Provided jobs building the railroad (many

former slaves and immigrants from Ireland and China Were hired)

The railroad replaced the Pony The railroad replaced the Pony Express for delivering the mailExpress for delivering the mail

Time zones were established to Time zones were established to simplify train schedules; now simplify train schedules; now every place in the same time every place in the same time

zonezone

observed the same timeobserved the same timeRailroads mad the cattle Railroads mad the cattle

industry boom because cows industry boom because cows could be shipped out east and could be shipped out east and

sold at lower prices for sold at lower prices for consumersconsumers

Eventually refrigerated railroad Eventually refrigerated railroad cars were invented that allowed cars were invented that allowed

fruit/veggies to be shipped fruit/veggies to be shipped nationwidenationwide

How the railroad helped defeat the How the railroad helped defeat the IndiansIndians

1. The government used the railroad to ship soldiers and weapons out west to fight the Indians

2. The railroad split herds of buffalo and led to their demise; Indians relied on the buffalo for food, shelter, clothing, etc.

3. Railroad companies built railroads on Indian land/reservations

Impact of the railroad in the Post-Impact of the railroad in the Post-Civil War yearsCivil War years

• Spurred industrialization

• Stimulated settlement of the west

• Connected the east with the west

• Spurred urban growth led to increased immigration

• Created a railroad millionaire class— “Lords of the rail”

Corrupt Railroad PracticesCorrupt Railroad Practices

1. Stock watering

2. Disregard for the public interest

3. Bribery of public officials

4. Monopolistic activities/control over industry

5. secret rebates/kickbacks

The Homestead Act of The Homestead Act of 18621862

Major provisionsMajor provisions

A person had to be 21 years A person had to be 21 years of age and either be or intend of age and either be or intend

to become a U.S. citizento become a U.S. citizen

Land was given to eligible Land was given to eligible applicants in 160 acre applicants in 160 acre

parcelsparcelsIf that person lived on the If that person lived on the

land for 5 years, cultivated at land for 5 years, cultivated at least a part of it, and least a part of it, and

improved the land,improved the land,

the land became the the land became the possession of that landholder possession of that landholder for only a small registration for only a small registration

fee.fee.

Farming on the Great PlainsFarming on the Great Plains

The windmill was invented by The windmill was invented by Daniel Halladay, and it helped Daniel Halladay, and it helped farmers to “harness the wing”farmers to “harness the wing”Barbed wire was invented by Barbed wire was invented by

Joseph Glidden, and it helped to Joseph Glidden, and it helped to protect the farmer’s cropsprotect the farmer’s crops

Dry farming was perfected by Dry farming was perfected by Hardy W. Campbell. By plowing Hardy W. Campbell. By plowing the soil deeply and repeatedly, the soil deeply and repeatedly,

the soil became more absorbent the soil became more absorbent and maintained moisture more and maintained moisture more

effectivelyeffectively

The wooden plow was replaced The wooden plow was replaced by James Oliver’s iron plow by James Oliver’s iron plow

(later replaced by steel plows in (later replaced by steel plows in 1877)1877)

John Appleby invented a “twine John Appleby invented a “twine binder” that made it possible to binder” that made it possible to gather bundles of wheat and gather bundles of wheat and then bind them with twine.then bind them with twine.

By the 1890’s, the Great Plains By the 1890’s, the Great Plains had become the “breadbasket” had become the “breadbasket” of America. It had become the of America. It had become the

greatest wheat-producing region greatest wheat-producing region in the world.in the world.

Major problems confronted by Major problems confronted by settlers on the Great Plainssettlers on the Great Plains

Constant threat of Indian attackConstant threat of Indian attackLack of wood both for fuel and Lack of wood both for fuel and

buildingbuildingDifficulty in obtaining waterDifficulty in obtaining water

Harsh winters and hot summers Harsh winters and hot summers the relentless windthe relentless wind

the emotional problems of living the emotional problems of living in virtual isolation from the in virtual isolation from the

outside world problems with outside world problems with swarms of insectsswarms of insects

The closing of the FrontierThe closing of the Frontier

By 1890 the frontier had been By 1890 the frontier had been completely settled; viewed by completely settled; viewed by

some as an accomplishment, by some as an accomplishment, by others as a tragedy; the Indians’ others as a tragedy; the Indians’ way of life had been destroyed.way of life had been destroyed.