““The American West was The American West was a land of opportunity for a land of opportunity for
Americans in the late Americans in the late 1800s.” To what extent 1800s.” To what extent do you agree with this do you agree with this
statement?statement?
The American The American west was a land west was a land of hardship and of hardship and
opportunity.opportunity.
Western expansion Western expansion continued to bring continued to bring American settlers American settlers into conflict with into conflict with
American Indians.American Indians.
4 main economic 4 main economic opportunities opportunities
in the Westin the West
FarmingFarming RanchingRanching MiningMining Railroad constructionRailroad construction
FarmingFarming
What does a successful farmer need?What does a successful farmer need?
Land with tillable soilLand with tillable soil Adequate rainfall or irrigationAdequate rainfall or irrigation Access to machinery and suppliesAccess to machinery and supplies A way to transport goods to marketA way to transport goods to market A market for the goodsA market for the goods
OpportunitiesOpportunities
Available LandAvailable Land Sources: Homestead Act (from Sources: Homestead Act (from
gov’t)gov’t)
Sales (from other land Sales (from other land owners)owners)
HardshipHardship
Thick sodThick sod Lack of rainfall/waterLack of rainfall/water Social isolationSocial isolation DebtDebt Low crop pricesLow crop prices High freight chargesHigh freight charges Extreme weatherExtreme weather Crop-eating Insects Crop-eating Insects
OpportunitiesOpportunities
Ranching is possible in places that Ranching is possible in places that couldn’t support other types of couldn’t support other types of farmingfarming
Markets existed for beef, wool, etc. Markets existed for beef, wool, etc.
HardshipsHardships
Livestock susceptible to diseaseLivestock susceptible to disease Farmers opposed open range, put up Farmers opposed open range, put up
fencesfences
HardshipsHardships
Few got richFew got rich Large corporations began to Large corporations began to
takeover the mining businesstakeover the mining business
HardshipsHardships
Dangerous, exhausting workDangerous, exhausting work Competition for jobs kept wages lowCompetition for jobs kept wages low
The Impact of RailroadsThe Impact of Railroads
Brought settlers westBrought settlers west Allowed westerners to trade with the Allowed westerners to trade with the
easteast Largest landowner in the westLargest landowner in the west Responsible for the creation on many Responsible for the creation on many
townstowns Encouraged slaughter of buffaloEncouraged slaughter of buffalo Accelerated conflict with Native Accelerated conflict with Native
AmericansAmericans
The Indian WarsThe Indian Wars
"It makes little difference, however, "It makes little difference, however, where one opens the record of where one opens the record of history of the Indians; every page history of the Indians; every page and every year has its dark stain. and every year has its dark stain. The story of one tribe is the story of The story of one tribe is the story of all."all."
--Helen Hunt Jackson--Helen Hunt Jackson
Indian Wars: Indian Wars: backgroundbackground
In reality, Indians had been at war In reality, Indians had been at war with white "invaders" since about with white "invaders" since about 1493 when Columbus' men had their 1493 when Columbus' men had their first clash with Native Americans.first clash with Native Americans.
Indians in the American west had Indians in the American west had been isolated from the pressures of been isolated from the pressures of U.S. expansion until after the Civil U.S. expansion until after the Civil War.War.
Indian Wars: A Shift in Indian Wars: A Shift in PolicyPolicy
When expansion into the American west When expansion into the American west accelerated and the U.S. government accelerated and the U.S. government changed its policy to "changed its policy to "concentrationconcentration." ." This meant moving Indians onto This meant moving Indians onto reservations.reservations.
Some tribes peacefully signed treaties with Some tribes peacefully signed treaties with the US government giving up their lands in the US government giving up their lands in exchange for promises of food and other exchange for promises of food and other payments. Other tribes fought for their payments. Other tribes fought for their lands.lands.
Life on reservations was worsened by Life on reservations was worsened by corrupt Indian agents.corrupt Indian agents.
Indian WarsIndian Wars
Beginning in 1862, the U.S. army Beginning in 1862, the U.S. army began a series of violent conflicts began a series of violent conflicts with various Native American tribes. with various Native American tribes. Together, these conflicts are known Together, these conflicts are known as the "Indian Wars." The goal of as the "Indian Wars." The goal of U.S. policy was to force U.S. policy was to force uncooperative tribes onto uncooperative tribes onto reservations and to secure western reservations and to secure western lands for white owners.lands for white owners.
The End Results The End Results
All tribes were forced onto All tribes were forced onto ReservationsReservations
Traditional ways of life for Native Traditional ways of life for Native Americans were endangeredAmericans were endangered
Settlers gained access to the best Settlers gained access to the best Western landsWestern lands
The near-extinction of The near-extinction of the bisonthe bison
Buffalo were hunted for sport, for Buffalo were hunted for sport, for their valuable furs, and as an their valuable furs, and as an intentional way to hurt Indian tribes intentional way to hurt Indian tribes that relied on the animal for that relied on the animal for survival.survival.