Looking to the West (1860-1900)

Looking to the West (1860-1900)

◊Moving West◊Moving West

The WestThe West

◊ Push Factors• Crowding back East• Displaced farmers• Former slaves• Eastern farmland

expensive• Ethnic and religious

repression in Europe• Haven for outlaws

◊ Push Factors• Crowding back East• Displaced farmers• Former slaves• Eastern farmland

expensive• Ethnic and religious

repression in Europe• Haven for outlaws

◊ Pull Factors• Government

incentives◊ Pacific Railway Act◊ Morrill Land-Grant

Act◊ Homestead Act

• Private Property◊ Miners◊ Ranchers◊ Farmers

◊ Pull Factors• Government

incentives◊ Pacific Railway Act◊ Morrill Land-Grant

Act◊ Homestead Act

• Private Property◊ Miners◊ Ranchers◊ Farmers

“Push” Factors◊ The Civil War had displaced

thousands of farmers, former slaves, and other workers.

◊ Eastern farmland was too costly.◊ Failed entrepreneurs sought a

second chance in a new locations.

◊ Ethnic and religious repression caused people to seek the freedom of the west.

◊ Outlaws sought refuge.

“Push” Factors◊ The Civil War had displaced

thousands of farmers, former slaves, and other workers.

◊ Eastern farmland was too costly.◊ Failed entrepreneurs sought a

second chance in a new locations.

◊ Ethnic and religious repression caused people to seek the freedom of the west.

◊ Outlaws sought refuge.

“Pull” Factors◊ The Pacific Railway Acts of

1862 and 1864◊ Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862◊ Land speculators◊ Homestead Act, 1862◊ Legally enforceable property

rights

When geographers study reasons for major migrations, they look at what they call push-pull factors-events and conditions that either force (push) people to move elsewhere or strongly attract (pull) them to do so. Here are some push-pull factors for moving west.

The Lure of the WestThe Lure of the West

GO WEST, YOUNG MAN!GO WEST, YOUNG MAN!

◊ The Myth of the Frontier

◊ “Manifest Destiny”

◊ Civil War over

◊ Adventure◊ Resources◊ Wealth (Gold,

Cattle, Land)

◊ The Myth of the Frontier

◊ “Manifest Destiny”

◊ Civil War over

◊ Adventure◊ Resources◊ Wealth (Gold,

Cattle, Land)

Settlers From Far and WideSettlers From Far and Wide

◊ German-speaking immigrants arrived seeking farmland. They brought the Lutheran religion with its emphasis on hard work and education.

◊ Lutherans from Scandinavia settled the northern plains from Iowa to Minnesota to the Dakotas, many pursuing dairy farming.

◊ Irish, Italians, European Jews, and Chinese settled in concentrated communities on the West coast. They took jobs in mining and railroad construction that brought them to the American interior.

◊ After the Civil War, thousands of African Americans rode or walked westward, often fleeing violence and exploitation.

◊ Benjamin “Pap” Singleton led groups of southern blacks on a mass “Exodus,” a trek inspired by the biblical account of the Israelites’ flight from Egypt to a prophesied homeland. Hence, the settlers called themselves Exodusters. Some 50,000 or more Exodusters migrated west.

◊ German-speaking immigrants arrived seeking farmland. They brought the Lutheran religion with its emphasis on hard work and education.

◊ Lutherans from Scandinavia settled the northern plains from Iowa to Minnesota to the Dakotas, many pursuing dairy farming.

◊ Irish, Italians, European Jews, and Chinese settled in concentrated communities on the West coast. They took jobs in mining and railroad construction that brought them to the American interior.

◊ After the Civil War, thousands of African Americans rode or walked westward, often fleeing violence and exploitation.

◊ Benjamin “Pap” Singleton led groups of southern blacks on a mass “Exodus,” a trek inspired by the biblical account of the Israelites’ flight from Egypt to a prophesied homeland. Hence, the settlers called themselves Exodusters. Some 50,000 or more Exodusters migrated west.

Pacific Railway ActsPacific Railway Acts

◊ 1862, 1864◊ Large land grants

to Union Pacific RR and Central Pacific RR

◊ 175 million acres

◊ 1862, 1864◊ Large land grants

to Union Pacific RR and Central Pacific RR

◊ 175 million acres

Morrill Land Grant ActMorrill Land Grant Act◊ 1862◊ State governments received

millions of acres of land to:• Sell • Create land grant colleges for

agricultural and mechanical arts

◊ 1862◊ State governments received

millions of acres of land to:• Sell • Create land grant colleges for

agricultural and mechanical arts

Homestead ActHomestead Act

◊ 1862◊ Small fee, settlers

received 160 acres if:• 21 yrs old• Citizens or immigrants

filing for citizenship• Minimum sized house• Lived on claim 6

months out of the year• Farm the land for 5

years in a row

◊ 372,000 farms◊ 80 million acres

◊ 1862◊ Small fee, settlers

received 160 acres if:• 21 yrs old• Citizens or immigrants

filing for citizenship• Minimum sized house• Lived on claim 6

months out of the year• Farm the land for 5

years in a row

◊ 372,000 farms◊ 80 million acres

ExodustersExodusters◊ Free blacks looking for new start after the Civil War◊ Most headed to Kansas (“pulled” by the Homestead Act and free

land.◊ Exodusters based on the biblical “Exodus” of the Hebrews from

Egypt - leaving bondage for freedom in the “Promised Land”

◊ Free blacks looking for new start after the Civil War◊ Most headed to Kansas (“pulled” by the Homestead Act and free

land.◊ Exodusters based on the biblical “Exodus” of the Hebrews from

Egypt - leaving bondage for freedom in the “Promised Land”

Exodusters - Nebraska Connection:Exodusters - Nebraska Connection:

Homesteader HomesHomesteader Homes

◊ Built with available materials (sod)

◊ Small◊ Functional as a

shelter

◊ Built with available materials (sod)

◊ Small◊ Functional as a

shelter

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19_5.jpg19_5.jpg

Homesteader lifestyleHomesteader lifestyle

◊ Difficult◊ Subsistence

farmers◊ Some

livestock◊ Grasshoppers◊ Storms◊ Distance◊ Lack of

building materials

◊ Difficult◊ Subsistence

farmers◊ Some

livestock◊ Grasshoppers◊ Storms◊ Distance◊ Lack of

building materials

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Homesteader ConclusionHomesteader Conclusion

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