6.2: Westward Expansion and Economic Development

Question 1

FARMERS

Answer 1

• Mechanization [reaper and harvester]
• Crop production boomed
• Redundancy of small farmers via. industrial farms
• Small farms bought out
• Crop prices plummeted
• Detrimental for small farmers
• Industrial trusts ensured manufactured goods remained w/ high prices
• Railroads used to transport crops started price gouging

Question 2

NATIONAL GRANGE MOVEMENT

Answer 2

• 1868
• Farmer resistance
• United isolated farmers for socialization and education
• Became political
• Pushed Midwest states for laws regulating railroad rates and illegalizating farmer-abusive corporative practices
• GRANGER LAWS
• 1886: Commerce Act: Interstate Commerce Commission: federal agency

Question 3

RAILROADS

Answer 3

• Gov saw rail could facilitate mass Westward migration
• Pacific Railroads Act: land granted to companies to build transcont. railroad [4 more built]
• 1862: Homestead Act: 160 acres to Westward migrants for farming and settling

Question 4

GOLD AND SILVER

Answer 4

• West for Gold
• 1869: Gold in Pike’s Peak
• Influx into Kansas and Nebraska
• Boomtowns: Denver and Boulder