Big IdeasChapter 13

Development and Growth of the West-Mining

• Potential wealth from mining strikes attracted a stampede of prospectors-California, Nevada, Colorado, Dakota Territory, Montana.

• Boom towns created from strikes and collapsed when mines closed.

• Crime a problems in boom towns- vigilance committees took justice into their hands.

• Bonanzas spurred on building of railroads and help develop the Northern Great Plains.

Ranching • Cattle ranches built in Great Plains-Texas Longhorns

adapted to living in harsh climate and conditions of the Plains. High Demand for meat during Civil War and after helped growth of industry.

• Open range allowed for grazing of cattle and drives from Texas north to rail towns –Abilene, Dodge City along trails Chisholm Trail, Sedalia Trail and others.

• Cowboys told of “grand tales” of daring in these towns that turned into “dime novels”- today these stories are still told in former mining towns that now are tourist attractions.

Farming the Plains• In 1819 Stephan Long explored the region and called

the “Great American Desert”.• Little did he know that farming would eventually

prosper in this harsh environment.• Railroad provided easy access to the region, RR

companies sold land along rail lines at low prices, provided credit, open offices in cities in US and Europe to advertise the life of prosperity in the West.

• Government passed the Homestead Act 1862 to provide cheap land as encouragement to move West.

Native Americans• Plains Indians were nomadic following the

Buffalo herds for food. • As farmers and miners moved West the N.A’s

were moved off their land onto reservations.• Given Annuities to help them survive.

Government killed buffalo to help keep N.A’s on reservations.

• Conflicts over land and a way of life ensued.

Assimilation did not work

• Dawes Act attempted to assimilate N.A.’s to American society. Broke up reservations and gave them 80 acres for adult and 40 acres for each child. Extra land sold to American settlers and proceeds went into a trust for N.A.’s.

• N.A’s had little training, little enthusiasm, to little land to be successful.

• Did not want to see reservations broken up and were still dependent on Buffalo. Few were willing or able to adapt to a settler’s life.