Lesson 2

Explorers from Spain and settlers seeking gold helped shape the West.

Prospector Boom town Ghost town

Spanish Exploration◦ Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo◦ Coast of California

Junipero Serra◦ Franciscan priest◦ Set up missions◦ Built first CA mission in 1769

Became San Diego

Russian Settlement◦ Fur trading post in CA, Fort Ross◦ Claimed much of Alaska

British Settlement◦ Fur trading posts along Pacific coast (OR & WA)

Wagon Trains◦ 1841-marked beginning of settlement◦ 1846-1848: War over Southwest between U.S. &

Mexico◦ U.S. won and claimed CA and the territories

Sutter’s Mill◦John Sutter moved to CA in 1839◦Settled near the Sierra Nevada◦Had a mill built by James Marshall near

the American River◦Marshall spotted gold ◦Thousands of people heard and came to

CA◦Began the Gold Rush

Prospectors◦ Person who searches for valuable minerals

Gold Rush Prospector Travel◦ Overland from eastern U.S.◦ By sea from East Coast to West Coast◦ Sea route was a 15,000 mile trip around South

America◦ Most arrived by 1849 (forty-niners)

San Francisco◦Port town where travelers arrived by sea

◦Forty-niners passed through◦By 1849, city grew to 100,000 people

Effects of Gold Rush◦ Boom Towns

Grew where minerals were discovered Miners and merchants came Denver, Colorado, & Carson City

◦ Railroads Built linking East Coast to West Coast Cities along railroad grew as people moved west

◦ Ghost Towns Deserted towns where minerals were once mined Attract tourists

Cattle drives◦Cowhands drove herds across the west◦From ranches in MT, WY, NV, UT◦To towns along the railroad “cow towns” were rowdy and

sometimes dangerous

Legend of the “Wild West” from colorful and sometimes violent characters

William “Buffalo Bill” Cody◦Travelling show formed in 1883 Featured trick riding, rifle shooting,

western wildlife West grew more tame by 1890s

◦Songs, stories, and movie keep legend alive

Russian territory◦ Used mainly for fur trading◦ Sold to U.S. in 1867

$7 million, or 2 cents/acre Wanted for fur trapping

Discovery of gold◦ 1880s and 1890s in parts of AK and Canada◦ Prospectors travelled to AK◦ cities- Fairbanks and Juneau grew quickly

Military Influence◦ World War II military bases◦ Airfields & highways boosted transportation and

business development after the war

Discovery of Oil◦ Oil deposits discovered in 1968◦ On coast of Artic Ocean ◦ 800 mile-long pipeline brings oil to Valdez

Loaded onto ships & sent to ports around the world

Chain of Islands◦ Made a territory in 1900◦ Exports: sugar cane & pineapples◦ Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau,

Kahoolawe World War II

◦ Ports and military bases built at Pearl Harbor◦ Bombed by Japanese forces◦ Gained statehood in 1959◦ 50th state