closing thewesternfrontier
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TRANSCRIPT
By E. Bosland, Kinnelon High School
Railroad ConstructionRailroad ConstructionRailroad ConstructionRailroad Construction
Promontory Point, UTPromontory Point, UT(May 10, 1869)(May 10, 1869)
Promontory Point, UTPromontory Point, UT(May 10, 1869)(May 10, 1869)
Railroads Impact
• Cattle industry
– Cowboys, diet, refrigerated cars
– Cowtowns (Dodge, Tombstone, Sedalia, Denver, Kansas City)
• Transcontinental- One of the Greatest achievements in US history
– Central Pacific- Union Pacific
– Gold Spike
– Unified East and West
– Encouraged and exploited immigration (irish, Chi)
– Time Zones- Prof. Charles Dowd- backed by RR
– Elimination of Buffalo Herds-
The Fall of the The Fall of the CowboyCowboy
Frederick RemingtonFrederick Remington
The Bronc BusterThe Bronc BusterFrederick RemingtonFrederick Remington
William “Buffalo Bill” William “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s Wild West Cody’s Wild West
ShowShow
William “Buffalo Bill” William “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s Wild West Cody’s Wild West
ShowShow
Legendary Female Western Legendary Female Western CharactersCharacters
Legendary Female Western Legendary Female Western CharactersCharacters
Calamity JaneCalamity JaneCalamity JaneCalamity Jane Annie OakleyAnnie OakleyAnnie OakleyAnnie Oakley
““Buffalo Bill” Cody & Sitting Buffalo Bill” Cody & Sitting BullBull
““Buffalo Bill” Cody & Sitting Buffalo Bill” Cody & Sitting BullBull
hollywood
The Traditional View of the The Traditional View of the WestWest
The Traditional View of the The Traditional View of the WestWest
Colt .45 RevolverColt .45 RevolverColt .45 RevolverColt .45 Revolver
God didn’t make men equal.God didn’t make men equal.Colonel Colt did!Colonel Colt did!
Legendary Gunslingers & Train Legendary Gunslingers & Train RobbersRobbers
Legendary Gunslingers & Train Legendary Gunslingers & Train RobbersRobbers
Jesse JamesJesse James
Billy the KidBilly the Kid
Dodge City Peace Dodge City Peace Commission, 1890Commission, 1890Dodge City Peace Dodge City Peace Commission, 1890Commission, 1890
ProspectingProspectingProspectingProspecting
Mining Centers: Mining Centers: 19001900
Mining Centers: Mining Centers: 19001900
Anaconda Copper Mining Co. Anaconda Copper Mining Co. (MT)(MT)
Anaconda Copper Mining Co. Anaconda Copper Mining Co. (MT)(MT)
Mining (“Boom”) Towns--Mining (“Boom”) Towns--Now Ghost TownsNow Ghost Towns
Mining (“Boom”) Towns--Mining (“Boom”) Towns--Now Ghost TownsNow Ghost Towns
Calico, CACalico, CACalico, CACalico, CA
Long Horns
• Long legs
• Disease resistant
• rugged
The Range WarsThe Range WarsThe Range WarsThe Range Wars
SheepHerders
CattleRanchers
TheThe
CattleCattle
TrailsTrails
TheThe
CattleCattle
TrailsTrails
Land Use: 1880sLand Use: 1880sLand Use: 1880sLand Use: 1880s
Regional Population Regional Population DistributionDistribution
by Race: 1900by Race: 1900
Regional Population Regional Population DistributionDistribution
by Race: 1900by Race: 1900
Regional Population Regional Population DistributionDistribution
by Race: 1900by Race: 1900
Regional Population Regional Population DistributionDistribution
by Race: 1900by Race: 1900
BlackBlack“Exoduster”“Exoduster”HomesteadHomestead
ersers
Black CowboysBlack Cowboys
The Buffalo Soldiers on the Great The Buffalo Soldiers on the Great PlainsPlains
The Buffalo Soldiers on the Great The Buffalo Soldiers on the Great PlainsPlains
A Romantic ViewA Romantic ViewA Romantic ViewA Romantic View
The Buffalo Soldiers & the Indian The Buffalo Soldiers & the Indian WarsWars
The Buffalo Soldiers & the Indian The Buffalo Soldiers & the Indian WarsWars
The “Chinese Question”The “Chinese Question”The “Chinese Question”The “Chinese Question”
Exclusion Act (1882)Exclusion Act (1882) - Oriental Exclusion - Oriental Exclusion ActAct - Chinese Exclusion - Chinese Exclusion ActAct
Homestead Act
• 1862
• 160 acres for 5 years of improvement
• 500,000 families took advantage
• Best land taken by speculators and RR
• Sooners- Land Race
Oklahoma land race• Oklahoma, once
Indian terr. Is opened for settlement- 4 land races determine ownership
• Sooners. - People that snuck across line b/f line start of race
• Last real breakdown of frontier.
Garden myth• Western boosters popularized the myth of the
Garden to encourage settlement during the second half of the nineteenth century.
• Charles Dana Wilber was one of the leading advocates of this myth He based this claim on "scientific" evidence that purportedly proved that "rain follows the plow.”
• The credibility of the Garden myth was strengthened by the unusually high levels of rainfall recorded throughout the 1870s and early 1880s, which further encouraged settlement.
• Families began to leave with signs on their wagons, "In God we trusted, in Kansas we busted."
Rain Follows the Plow!Rain Follows the Plow!Rain Follows the Plow!Rain Follows the Plow!
God speed the plow.... By this wonderful provision, which is only man's mastery over nature, the clouds are dispensing copious rains ... [the plow] is the instrument which separates civilization from savagery; and converts a desert into a farm or garden.... To be more concise, Rain follows the plow. Charles Dana Wilber
Ah, Nebraska Land, Sweet Nebraska Land!
Upon thy burning soil I stand.
And I look away, across the plains,
And I wonder why it never rains.
Plains Problems
• Lack of precipitation
• Very Windy- tornados
• Lack of building materials – wood
• Very cold- short growing season
• Dense Sod
What is the Message of this What is the Message of this Picture?Picture?
What is the Message of this What is the Message of this Picture?Picture?
The Realty--A Pioneer’s Sod The Realty--A Pioneer’s Sod House, SDHouse, SD
The Realty--A Pioneer’s Sod The Realty--A Pioneer’s Sod House, SDHouse, SD
Tornado Alley
New Agricultural TechnologyNew Agricultural Technology
(solutions)(solutions)
New Agricultural TechnologyNew Agricultural Technology
(solutions)(solutions)
““Prairie Fan”Prairie Fan”Water PumpWater Pump
Steel Plow [“Sod Steel Plow [“Sod Buster”]Buster”]
Barbed WireBarbed WireBarbed WireBarbed Wire
Joseph Joseph GliddenGliddenJoseph Joseph GliddenGlidden
More New Tech.
McCormick ReaperRussian Wheat
•Disease Resistant•Tolerates cold weather•Can handle drought
Frederick Jackson TurnerFrederick Jackson TurnerFrederick Jackson TurnerFrederick Jackson Turner
The Significance of the Frontier The Significance of the Frontier in American Societyin American Society (1893)(1893)
Frontier Settlements: 1870-Frontier Settlements: 1870-18901890
Frontier Settlements: 1870-Frontier Settlements: 1870-18901890
Movement west
• Solutions to Indian Problem- Assimilation, Relocation, extermination.- TJ
• Black Hawk war- 1832- – Western Illinois, Iowa– Black Hawk- chief of Sawk tribe– Four month war– Ends with massacre of 200– Froced onto rez.
• Cherokee- Trail of Tears- AJ- 1835
• Fort Laramie Tr
Movement west
• Trail of tears- 1835-AJ
• Fort Laramie treaty-1851– Native control of central plains– Natives promise to not attack passing settlers– Annual payments to natives– Ignored by US and Settlers– Natives forced onto rez.
Treaty of Ft. Laramie Treaty of Ft. Laramie (1851)(1851)
ColoradoColoradoGold Rush Gold Rush
(1859)(1859)
Utes-Worthless land, -Out of way of RR-Destroyed by violent prospectors-Horace Greeley-Horse culture.
Colonel John ChivingtonColonel John ChivingtonColonel John ChivingtonColonel John Chivington
Kill and scalp all, big Kill and scalp all, big and little!and little!Sandy Creek, CO Sandy Creek, CO MassacreMassacreNovember 29, 1864November 29, 1864
300 plus Cheyenne and 300 plus Cheyenne and Arapahoe. slaughtered Arapahoe. slaughtered in their sleep.in their sleep.
Survivors paid off to Survivors paid off to keep silentkeep silent
Treaty of Medicine Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek (1867)Lodge Creek (1867)
22ndnd Treaty of Treaty of Ft. Laramie (1868)Ft. Laramie (1868)
ReservationReservationPolicyPolicy
ReservationReservationPolicyPolicy
Gold Found in Gold Found in the Black the Black
Hills of the Hills of the Dakota Dakota
Territory!Territory!
18741874
Gold Found in Gold Found in the Black the Black
Hills of the Hills of the Dakota Dakota
Territory!Territory!
18741874
Custer!!• West Point- low in class
• Fought at 1st bull run- 1861
• Brig. Gen. in 1863
• Present at Gettysburg
• Chased Lee w/ Grant in 1865
• Fought w/ Mexicans in their Revolution
• Punished for infidelities w/ superiors wife.
• Forced to serve in West and protect railways.
• Poor relations with Indians.
The Battle of Little Big HornThe Battle of Little Big Horn18761876
The Battle of Little Big HornThe Battle of Little Big Horn18761876
Chief Sitting BullChief Sitting Bull
Gen. GeorgeGen. GeorgeArmstrong Armstrong
CusterCuster
Hollywood
Battle Result
• Custer- 7th Cav. Destroyed
• 260 dead soldiers
• Solidifies US popular opinion against natives
• Victory?
• Sitting bull, Crazy horse, Custer b/c legends.
Chief Joseph Chief Joseph I will I will fight no more forever!fight no more forever!
Chief Joseph Chief Joseph I will I will fight no more forever!fight no more forever!
Nez Percé Nez Percé tribal tribal
retreat (1877)retreat (1877)
• Oliver Howard-US cav Gen.
• Nez Pierce– 800, mostly elderly, children and women– Traveled 1700 miles– Pursued by 2000 soldiers– Joseph surrenders within 35 miles of Canadian
border.
Geronimo, Apache Chief: Geronimo, Apache Chief: Hopeless CauseHopeless Cause
Geronimo, Apache Chief: Geronimo, Apache Chief: Hopeless CauseHopeless Cause
Helen Hunt JacksonHelen Hunt JacksonHelen Hunt JacksonHelen Hunt Jackson
A Century of DishonorA Century of Dishonor (1881) (1881)A Century of DishonorA Century of Dishonor (1881) (1881)
Dawes Severalty Act Dawes Severalty Act (1887):(1887):
Assimilation PolicyAssimilation Policy
Dawes Severalty Act Dawes Severalty Act (1887):(1887):
Assimilation PolicyAssimilation Policy
Carlisle Indian School, PACarlisle Indian School, PA
Dawes Severalty Act
• 1887• Abandon the practice of dealing with natives as
separate nations• Designed to break up tribes-which many felt stood
in the way of assimilation• 160 acre plots for per family• Citizenship tro those that stayed on it 25 years• 47 million acres given to indians, 90 million left
over
Arapahoe “Ghost Dance”, Arapahoe “Ghost Dance”, 18901890
Arapahoe “Ghost Dance”, Arapahoe “Ghost Dance”, 18901890
Ghost dance
• Resurrection
• Fervor
• Crazy horse/Sitting bull
• Outlawed by whites
Chief Big Foot’s Lifeless Chief Big Foot’s Lifeless BodyBody
Wounded Knee, SD, 1890Wounded Knee, SD, 1890
Chief Big Foot’s Lifeless Chief Big Foot’s Lifeless BodyBody
Wounded Knee, SD, 1890Wounded Knee, SD, 1890
Wounded knee Dec. 29, 1891
• Last major indian event, considered the end of hostile actions
• Began with Col. Forsyth attempting to disarm the Sioux.
• Gun discharges, US Cav opens fire at close range with cannon and gatling guns.
• 88 man, 44 women, and 18 children killed
Battlefield orphan
Indian Reservations TodayIndian Reservations TodayIndian Reservations TodayIndian Reservations Today
Crazy Horse Monument:Crazy Horse Monument:Black Hills, SDBlack Hills, SD
Crazy Horse Monument:Crazy Horse Monument:Black Hills, SDBlack Hills, SD
Lakota ChiefLakota ChiefLakota ChiefLakota Chief
Korczak Ziolkowski, SculptorKorczak Ziolkowski, SculptorCrazy Horse MonumentCrazy Horse Monument
Korczak Ziolkowski, SculptorKorczak Ziolkowski, SculptorCrazy Horse MonumentCrazy Horse Monument
His vision of the finished His vision of the finished memorial.memorial.
His vision of the finished His vision of the finished memorial.memorial.
Mt. Rushmore: Black Hills, SDMt. Rushmore: Black Hills, SDMt. Rushmore: Black Hills, SDMt. Rushmore: Black Hills, SD
Native Stereotypes
• Espera Oscar DeCorti
Commercial agriculture
• Mass production of factories being applied to farms.
• Commercial farmers specialized in cash crops, not self sufficiency– Makes them dependent on others.
• Railroads
• Banks, interest rates
– Unlike industrialists, they could not control production rates and price
Farm Overproduction• Massive growth of farming in many nations
led to a increase in “supply”
• Prices plummet
• Farmers all over the world can ship their product more easily because of communication and transportation achievements.
• 1880’s many farms mortgaged and in debt to bank.
Farmers Grievances
• Railroads- RR charges variable rates on goods,– farmers paid more.– Certain regions paid more– Also controlled storage areas at terminals and charged
high rates
• Banks– High interest, not enough money to pay off debt-
foarmers supported more money- inflation– Prices- Too little for their crop, too much for things
they bought.
The Agrarian Malaise
• Cultural solitude/isolation on plains
• Poor public services education
• Urbanization-(hayseeds)
• A new sense of sectionalism
Destruction of the Buffalo Destruction of the Buffalo HerdsHerds
Destruction of the Buffalo Destruction of the Buffalo HerdsHerds
The near extinction of the buffalo.The near extinction of the buffalo.
National ParksNational ParksNational ParksNational Parks
Yellowstone National ParkYellowstone National ParkYellowstone National ParkYellowstone National Park
First national First national park established park established
in 1872.in 1872.
Conservation MovementConservation MovementConservation MovementConservation Movement
John MuirJohn Muir
With President With President Theodore Theodore RooseveltRoosevelt
Sierra ClubSierra ClubSierra ClubSierra Club
Founded in 1892Founded in 1892