Mining Mining CentersCentersMining Mining CentersCentersVirginia City

Comstock Lode

ProspectingProspectingProspectingProspecting

•May 10, 1869 at Promontory, Utah •“The Wedding of the Rails”

•Central Pacific and Union Pacific

•May 10, 1869 at Promontory, Utah •“The Wedding of the Rails”

•Central Pacific and Union Pacific

Promontory, Utah

““The Big Four” Railroad The Big Four” Railroad MagnatesMagnates

““The Big Four” Railroad The Big Four” Railroad MagnatesMagnates

Charles CrockerCharles CrockerCharles CrockerCharles Crocker

Mark HopkinsMark HopkinsMark HopkinsMark Hopkins Leland StanfordLeland StanfordLeland StanfordLeland Stanford

Collis HuntingtonCollis HuntingtonCollis HuntingtonCollis Huntington

•Financed the Central Pacific

•Hired Chinese men to do the

labor

•They had to cut through the

Sierra Nevada mountain range.

•Financed the Central Pacific

•Hired Chinese men to do the

labor

•They had to cut through the

Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Homestead ActHomestead Act was a law developed in 1862 was a law developed in 1862 by Congress to promote settlement of the Great by Congress to promote settlement of the Great

Plains. Plains.

Age 21 and the head of the family could have Age 21 and the head of the family could have 160 acres of land160 acres of land if they improved it in five if they improved it in five

yearsyears

Could buy it for a small amount of Could buy it for a small amount of $$$$$$

The US Government encouraged westward The US Government encouraged westward expansion and the Homestead Act allowed expansion and the Homestead Act allowed

thousands of settlers to move west and start thousands of settlers to move west and start new lives. new lives.

Black CowboysBlack Cowboys““Exodusters”Exodusters”

100,000 Exodusters leave the South and

get involved with the ranching

industry in Texas and Oklahoma.

Allowed farmers to cut through dense, root-choked sod.

Steel Plow

Reduced labor force needed for harvest. Allows farmers to maintain larger farms.

Mechanized Reaper

Powers irrigation systems and pumps up ground water.

Steel Windmill

Barbed WireBarbed WireBarbed WireBarbed Wire

Joseph GliddenJoseph Glidden

•Barbed wire fenceBarbed wire fence was a lifesaver because of the lack of wood in the dry plains of

America. •Barbed wireBarbed wire also solved

the problems between farmers and ranchers.