american west Flashcards
oregan trail 1836
- easier, quicker, cheaper route from west coast to east coast.
- heading to Oregon and California previously long sea voyage could take a year
- this land route took 8-9 months
- 1841 Government funds expedition to map and publicise a tested route wagons could use to get across the Plains and mountains to the west coast.
- between 1836 and 1869 over 100,000 people used it.
cosequences/ importance of the oregan trail 1836
- settlement of the west : more people succesfully travelled west.
- conflict with plain indians : white plain indians increasingly came into contact as white americans crossed indian territory to get to west coast - potential for conflict due to problems created by migrants crossing into indian territory.
- used by 49s in the gold rush to get to california.
manifest destiny 1845
- belief that white americans had God given right to migrate and take over land in america and use it as they want it to the benefit of mankind ie they should farm and mine for resources
- could remove native people from the land as they were wasting the land as not farming or mining.
concequence/ importance of manifest destiny 1845
Manifest Destiny 1845 - Belief White Americans had God given right to migrate and take over the land in America and use it as they wanted to the benefit of mankind ie they should farm and mine for resources.
- Could remove native people from the land as they were ‘wasting’ the land as not farming or mining.
1. FOR SETTLEMENT OF THE WEST - More people migrated West.
2. FOR CONFLICT WITH THE PLAINS INDIANS - Belief that white Americans could take land away from Plains Indians and they did.
3. FOR CONFLICT WITH THE PLAINS INDIANS: Belief that it was right and natural to spread Christianity & ‘civilisation’ & white values and persuade/force the native peoples to adopt American way of life.
Donner Party Migration – group of migrants led by the family called Donner
- July 1846 - 80 of the original group left the Oregon Trail
- Hoped to use a short cut but it was untested and they were delayed
- October 1846 – February 1847 - trapped by snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains in winter – food ran out
- some survivors of the winter did so by eating those who died.
consequences/ importance of the Donnar party migration
- Showed other migrants the importance of following a tried and tested route.
- Many of the Donner Party died and some of those that survived had to resort to cannibalism.
- Example to other migrants to make sure they are prepared and united as a group when migrating.
Mormon Migration 1846-47
- Joseph Smith set up the Mormon Church but persecuted in many different locations – Church of Latter Day Saints
- Smith murdered and replaced as leader by Brigham Young in 1844
- Young decided to move to a location where no-one else lived
- so the Mormons could live how they wanted – the Great Salt Lake area.
- Young made sure the migration was successful – he waited til Spring 1847 to move West and with an advanced party marked a trail with rest areas and grass and planted crops for main group who arrived August 1847
- working as a community they irrigated the land and built Salt Lake City.
- June 1846 waited at Winter Quarters in Omaha til spring.
- April 1847 Young spent months of planning and talking to explorers and guides before setting out with advanced party heading
- July 1847 main group of 1,500 Mormons set off from Omaha. They were divided into groups and each group had a leader with everyone having a particular skill eg medical, carpentry so the group could survive if it got separated.
consequences/ importance of the mormon migration 1846-47
FOR SETTLEMENT:
1. First successful settlement on the Plains at the Great Salt Lake.
2. Encouraged other migrants to settle on the Plains as it showed that people could settle successfully on the Plains.
Gold Rush 1849
- 1848 Gold found in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California
- 100,000s of people worldwide came to California to ‘strike it lucky’ – most failed but settled in California as farmers or other associated industries
- many people also followed the 49s to make money by providing services and selling goods
consequences/ importance of the gold rush 1849
FOR SETTLEMENT:
1. Increased migration to California - miners and support industries.
2. Failed 49s stay in California to establish new life eg as farmers.
3. Improved Californian economy.
FOR LAW & ORDER:
1. Increased lawlessness.
2. Development of vigilante groups.
CONFLICT WITH PLAINS INDIANS
1. White Americans disturbed movement of buffalo, cows pulling oxen ate grass so limited hunting.
2. Conflict led to fears of White Americans resulting in FORT LARAMIE TREATY 1851 (FIRST ONE) & INDIAN APPROPRIATION ACT 1851
American Civil War 1861-65
- between northern states of America against the southern states and north won
- southern states had no longer wanted to be part of the union of the United States and so set up their own group – the Confederacy
- the southern states had blocked certain laws – now that they were no longer part of the union 2 important laws were passed in 1862 – Homestead Act & Pacific Railroad Act
consequences/ importance of the american civil war 1861-65
SETTLEMENT: War allowed the Union to pass legislation (laws) which the southern states had previously blocked:
1. Homestead Act 1862.
2. Pacific Railroad Act 1862
- Defeat of the Confederate South – led to economic problems in the south so many people wanted to leave southern states and find a better life in the west eg formers soldiers, poor farmers, former slaves.
- End of slavery – freed slaves wanting a better life so many migrated West – later EXODUSTER MOVEMENT.
LAW AND ORDER – see law and order section.
1. Increased lawlessness due to army deserters and ex-soldiers eg Reno Gang.
2. Railroad brought law enforcers and more people expecting government to enforce law and order.
CATTLE INDUSTRY: see cattle industry section
1. Initial boost by number of cattle after war and economic poverty of the south.
2. Development of industry – cow towns.
Homestead Act 1862
KEY TERMS: HOMESTEAD = enough land for a family to farm and survive
HOMESTEADER = OWNER OF A HOMESTEAD!
- US government wanted settlement of the West by individual farmers
- 160 acres of land available for $10 claim which if after 5 years the homesteader paid another $30 it became their property
- Eventually 80 million acres of land were settled#
- LIMITATIONS: rich land owners still found ways to buy up land and then sell at a profit to a homesteader
consequences/ importance of the homestead act 1862
SETTLEMENT:
1. Encouraged White settlement of the Plains particularly Nebraska as more land became available (6 million acres by 1876) - Parts of Great Plains settled for first time.
2. Helped the development of new farming techniques so easier to farm on plains see PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS OF FARMING ON PLAINS.
3. Prevented land speculation as land offered cheaply so ordinary people could buy land. Encouraged people from Europe to come to USA with promise of cheap land.
MORE LAWS: 160 acres was not enough for many areas as land of poor quality so this led to many failed claims and the government passing more laws.
1873 TIMBER CULTURE ACT: 1873 Timber Culture Act which allowed settlers to claim more land SEE BELOW
1877 DESERT LAND ACT – settler could buy 640 acres of desert land cheaply SEE BELOW
LAW AND ORDER CONFLICT WITH CATTLE RANCHERS – homesteaders wanted land to farm with crops and fences (after barbed wire 1874) but cattle ranchers wanted open range SEE CATTLE RANCHING
Problems & solutions of farming on the Plains
- 3 problems farming on the plains:
- limited water
- no wood
- crop varieties could not stand extreme weather
- solutions:
- Large, all steel wind pumps (1874) - access underground water up to 30 feet below
- barbed wire (1874) - cheap and effective way for farmers to fence off their lands and protect claims, crops, livestock
- Turkey red wheat – crop could cope with the harsh weather
consequences/ importance of problems and solutions on farming on the plains
SETTLEMENT
1. EASIER FOR HOMESTEADERS TO FARM AND SURVIVE ON THE PLAINS BY SOLVING PROBLEMS ie grow enough food to survive and stay on the plains eg WIND PUMP solved problems of limited water.
2. BARBED WIRE solved problem of no wood
LAW & ORDER:
Conflict between homesteaders & cattle ranchers during era of open range as homesteaders fenced off land which made it harder for cattle to access water supplies.
KEY POINT – developments made it easier to farm on the Plains as they solved serious problems; if easier more homesteaders could be successful and stay on their land and so settle the West further.
Pacific Railroad Act 1862
- completed in 1869 – other rail routes branched off from it
- huge federal (government) grant given to 2 companies to build First Transcontinental Railroad – from (Omaha to Sacramento
- companies also got 45 million acres of free land for them to sell to settlers
set up ‘Bureaus of Immigration’ and sent agents all over Europe to persuade immigrants to ‘come West’ and buy their land using effective marketing - electric telegraph went along the route
consequences/importance of pacific railroad act 1862
SETTLEMENT & FARMING:
1. MORE PEOPLE MIGRATED - migration was quicker, cheaper and easier.
2. RAILROAD COMPANIES ENCOURAGED SETTLEMENT ON LAND NEAR RAILROAD - Railroad companies sold the land the government had given them cheaply – major advertising which encouraged people to settle.
3. FARMING BECAME MORE SUCCESSFUL – easier for farmers to get supplies (machinery, timber, raw materials) and send goods (crops) to market in the east to make money and survive
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CATTLE INDUSTRY – see Cattle Industry
1. RAILROADS HELPED MOVE THE CATTLE/MEAT to markets in west and eastern meat packing factories and later used refrigeration carriages.
2. COW TOWNS DEVELOPED eg Abilene - because of its position of the railroad provided a meeting place for cattlemen and traders who wanted to buy meat.
3. PROVIDED MARKETS: railroad gangs building the railroad needed food so provided a market for cattle meat.
LAW AND ORDER – see Law & Order
1. CREATED PROBLEMS OF LAW AND ORDER ‘hell on wheels’ ‘cow towns’ = NEGATIVE
2. EASIER TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER as law enforcers were made aware by telegraph of any problems and could get to locations quicker. = POSITIVE
IMPACT ON PLAINS INDIANS’ WAY OF LIFE
1. INCREASED SETTLERS ON INDIAN LAND – government had given away Indian land to companies
2. AFFECT ON THE BUFFALO – and destruction of Plains Indians way of life – where buffalo moved was affected so difficult for Indians to hunt and they relied on buffalo for all their food and resources.
First Transatlantic Railroad 1869
USE THE SAME INFORMATION AS THE PACIFIC RAILROAD ACT
Timber Culture Act 1973
- homesteaders allowed to claim an extra 160 acres of land if trees were planted on a quarter of the new land
- correction to the Homestead Act of 1862 as 160 acres was not enough land for average homesteader to survive
- Positives: more land available for settlement.
- Negatives: Not possible to grow trees in some areas as climate too harsh.
consequences/ importance of Timber Culture Act 1973
SETTLEMENT
1. SOLVED A PROBLEM CREATED BY THE HOMESTEAD ACT AND GAVE MORE LAND TO SETTLERS–could make a success of their farms and so establish a permanent life and stay on in the west.
2. HELPED DEVELOP THE PLAINS WITH TREES for windbreaks and a resource (timber and fuel) so encouraging more settlement as migrants more likely to be successful ie produce food to survive.
3. ENCOURAGED MORE MIGRANTS TO MIGRATE WEST- as there was more land and more chance of successful farming.
4. NEGATIVE – MORE LAND SPECULATION RATHER THAN SETTLEMENT - Land speculators claimed more land but then waited for land prices to increase selling it on so restricted settlement.
The Exoduster Movement and Kansas 1879
- After Civil War and end of slavery many black Americans wanted a better life – in south they suffered discrimination and limited opportunities.
- Claiming land under 1862 Homestead Act they hoped migration would give them a new life.
- Encouraged by Benjamin Singleton who promoted Kansas as a good destination for black settlers.
- In 1879 a rumour spread that the US government had given the whole state to ex-slave - it wasn’t true but triggered many to go
- By the end of 1879 40,000 had set off to Kansas but also Missouri, Indiana & Illinois. By 1880 43,00 black Americans had settled in the West: settlements founded by Black Americans included Nicodemus in Kansas.
- From Kansas black settlers moved to other parts of America further settling the West in the 1880s eg EG NEBRASKA AND after 1889 OKLAHOMA
consequences/ importance of The Exoduster Movement and Kansas 1879
SETTLEMENT OF THE WEST
1. MASS MIGRATION OF BLACK AMERICANS TO SETTLE IN THE WEST
2. CONTINUED POVERTY OF BLACK AMERICANS – - often received the poorest quality land and there was opposition by white Americans in Kansas to migrants.
The Dawes Act 1887
- reorganised the way land was allocated to Indians
- each Indian family would get 160 acres rather than a large area to a tribe but had to accept they were US citizens and to follow US laws not tribal ones
- surplus land was then sold by government to settlers in the land rushes of 1889-90s
- aimed to get Plains Indians to become homesteaders and follow American culture but this failed
consequences/ importance of the Dawes act 1887
CONFLICT WITH PLAINS INDIANS
1. Indians lost land as only allocated so much and many Indians sold the land as they did not want to become farmers. By 1890 the Indians had lost half the land they had in 1887.
2. Destroyed the communal way of life of the Plains Indians as land now allocated to individual families.
SETTLEMENT
1. Increased settlement with more land sold to settlers and for building railroads.
OKLAHOMA LAND RUSH 1893
- land became available after 1887 Dawes Act with 8 million acres opened up for settlement
- Oklahoma land rush of 1893 the largest
- there were seven land rushes in Oklahoma between 1889-95 - first land rush 1889
- 160 acre sections were staked out and at 12 noon on 22 April 1889 claimants rushed to stake their claim of the 2 million acres of land available
consequences/ importance of the oklahoma land rush 1893
SETTLEMENT
1. Increased settlement with more land sold to settlers and for building railroads.
CONFLICT WITH PLAINS INDIANS
1. Indians lost land – no-where to live as free nomadic people.
2. Destroyed the communal way of life as they were forced to live a white American way of life or live on a reservation.
The American Civil War and the Cattle Industry
- NUMBERS OF CATTLE: war left cattle in south unattended & resulted in uncontrolled breeding - end of the war millions in the southern states especially Texas.
- PEOPLE WILLING TO TRY NEW IDEAS: South lost and economy destroyed; some entrepreneurs able to take advantage of situation and make money eg Goodnight, McCoy & Iliff – ‘cattle barons’
- GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION: Pacific Railroad Act 1862 - SEE SETTLEMENT SECTION
consequences/ importance of The American Civil War and the Cattle Industry
- DEVELOPMENT OF THE CATTLE INDUSTRY – numbers & people
- PASSING OF THE PACIFIC RAILROAD ACT 1862: see details in SETTLEMENT SECTION
The Goodnight-Loving Trail 1866
- After Civil War millions of cattle in south but no-one wanted to buy so cheap $5 a head
- Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving realised if they moved cows from Texas in south to settlements in west avoiding Kansas they could sell them for 4 times Texas prices in West
- with 18 cowboys they drove 2,000 cattle through hostile Comanche Indian territory to Indian Reservation in West at Fort Sumner, in New Mexico to provide food for the Indians
- route other ranchers could use to reach the new western markets including reservations, forts and mining towns set a precedent (first time it was done)
