US History- Goal 4

US History- Goal 4Westward MigrationWestward MigrationPush Factors- force people to leave an areaCivil War, Immigration, land shortage, ReligionPull Factors- attract a person to an areaCheap land, railroads (jobs), opportunity to own private propertyTrailsOregon TrailSanta Fe Trail

MormonsMove to Chicago seeking religious freedomJoseph Smith will lead them to ChicagoMove to Utah for more religious freedomLed by Brigham Young

Acts to Encourage Movement WestMorrill-Land Grant ActGave states money to set up college and universities to study mining and farmingEx- Texas A & M (Texas Agriculture and Mining)Homestead ActCheap landMust be 21 yrs old and farm for 5 yearsGet 160 acres of landPlains FarmersProblemsNo wood, few trees, tough sod, little rainfall, low crop yield, extreme seasonsSolutionsSod homes- made of mud due to no wood and few treesWindmills- allow digging of deeper wellsSteel plow- dig through the tough sodBarbed wire fencing- keep predators out and animals inWill bring an end to the open rangePictures of Homesteaders

Transcontinental RailroadProvide lots of jobs (especially for Immigrants)Irish immigrants work in EastChinese immigrants work in West2 Railroad Companies JoinUnion Pacific- from Nebraska to Promontory Point, UtahCentral Pacific- from California to Promontory Point, UtahFinal stake driven in at Promontory Point, UtahResult- Transportation quicker, West will grow quicker and divide US into time zones

Credit Mobilier ScandalCredit Mobilier was a construction company given contracts to build railroadsThey were owned by Republican SenatorsThey charged 3x the right amount and kept the extra as profit

Destruction of BuffaloIndians relied on Buffalo for everythingFood, clothing, shelter, tools, weaponsRailroad will take up grazing land for BuffaloPassengers will hunt Buffalo for sport (their hides were made into coats for wealthy)ImpactIndians will be forced to change and adapt to life without Buffalo- life on reservationsMiningMining will become another reason people move WestBoom Towns- gold or silver discovered Create great growth overnight as people move in49ers- Move to California for Gold in 1849Denver, CO, Boise, Idaho and Sacramento, CaliforniaMerchants will follow miners and shops set upGhost Town- after gold or silver gone, people leave and town desertedResultsWest will become populated (states created)Indians forced to ReservationsCattle BoomCattle trade and herding will provide jobsCattle drives- from Texas to places like Abilene and Wichita, KansasRise of CowboysFreedmen who move west after Civil WarHard work, little pay, long hoursAbout 1/5 of Cowboys were Mexicans or African Americans

Pictures