Tensions In The West

Chapter 24

24.1 Introduction
After the Civil War, railroad builders, miners, ranchers, and farmers began moving west. Tensions develop between settlers and Natives over land and clashing cultures.
Versus

Miners

Ranchers

Railroad Builders

24.2 Who Were the Nez Perce?

Nez Perce lived in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. They were expert horsemen. For decades the Nez Perce were of the friendliest of Indian tribes towards whites. How did the government get them to give up their land? Some bands of Nez Perce refused to sign treaties to give up their land. Chief Joseph agreed to sign one of these treaties.

The Nez Perce

Chief Joseph

Why Was There Bloodshed?

700 Nez Perce agreed to leave, but a group of warriors attacked a white camp. Soldiers came and opened fire: 34 soldiers were killed. What do you think happens next? Nez Perce were now at war with the whites.

What Was the Flight To Canada?

The Nez Perce tried to flee to Canada. They were chased for 1,000 miles. The chase ended 40 miles short of the border. Where do you think they ended up? The Nez Perce were forced to move to a reservation in Oklahoma.

Chief Josephs famous fight no more forever speech

I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Toohoolhoolzote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say, "Yes" or "No." He who led the young men [Ollokot] is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are -- perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.

24.3 Why Was There New Interest In The West?

What Was the Homestead Act? Whats one way the government could get people moving west? Offered homesteaders 160 acres of land for free as long as they cleared it and farmed it for 5 years. 1860-1910 the number of farms in U.S. tripled.

What Was the Pacific Railroad Act?

Called for a transcontinental railroad to be built by 2 companies; Union Pacific, and Central Pacific. How could the government encourage these 2 companies? Government gave them free land for every mile of track laid (subsidies). Opened up the West to a flood of new settlers.

Transcontinental Railroad

24.4 Who Were the Railroad Builders?

The Union Pacific Built west. Who do you think provided the labor? 1866, 10,000 mostly Irish immigrants began laying track in Nebraska moving west. Workers were drawn by adventure. They lived in dangerous tent cities. Millions of Buffalo were decimated because of the RR. Why would they want to exterminate the buffalo?

Building the Union Pacific

The Central Pacific built east. The CP began laying track in CA, moving east. Who do you think provided the labor? The CP began hiring Chinese immigrants. Sent agents to China to recruit them. More than 12,000 Chinese immigrants worked on the CP.

Where Did the Two Lines Meet?

May 10, 1869, the 2 lines met in Promontory Point, Utah. What do you think was driven into the final rail? A golden spike was driven to unite the 1,800 miles of track.

24.5 Who Were the Miners?

What Were Boomtowns and Ghost Towns? Miners began moving west during the CA gold rush in 1848. Fast-growing boomtowns (often lawless) appeared over night with the discovery of gold or silver What happened to the towns when the gold/silver dried up? and disappeared just as fast (ghost towns) when the mines dried up.

Largest Single Mass of Gold

Boomtown

Ghost Town

24.6 Who Were Ranchers and Cowboys?

Why Were the Buffalo Exterminated? Why do you think they were exterminated? Buffalo hunters followed the railroads and killed buffalo for hides and tongue. By 1880, buffalo were almost wiped out and Plains Indians were forced to move to reservations.

Do you know what these are?

What Was the Long Drive?

How would the railroads benefit cattle ranchers? Railroads made it possible for cowboys to ship cattle to the east. Herds went from Texas to railroad lines in Kansas. Most cowboys were Texans, about 1/3 were black or Mexican.

Old Dodge City

Boot Hill

Cowboy Camp

Texas Longhorn
7 Feet

24.7 Who Were the Homesteaders?

When Did the Homesteaders Arrive? The GPs were originally thought too dry to farm. Between 1862 and 1900, 500,000 homesteaders moved to the Great Plains.

The Great Plains

How Did they Farm the Dry Plains?

Rain was scarce and unreliable, made farming difficult on GPs. With no trees for wood, what would they build their houses out of? Almost no wood on plains so homesteaders built houses out of sod. How would they get water? Water was pumped out of the ground by windmills. The Great Plains became the most productive wheat growing region in the world

Great Plains during a dry period

Great Plains after years of drought and dust

And watch out for these guys

One of the first sod houses in Kansas

Sod House

Another Sod House

24.8 Why Was There War On The Plains?

What Was Reservation Life Like? What would make Indians sign treaties to give up their land? Indians agreed to move to reservations in exchange for food, tools and schools. Do you think they ever got these things? Indians were unhappy with reservations and many left to find food or attack settlers.

Do they look happy to be here?

What Was the Battle of Little Big Horn?

AKA Custers Last Stand. Custers soldiers found gold and soon 15,000 miners showed up. What do you think the government will say to the Sioux? Government demanded that Sioux sell the Black Hills; they refused. Custer spotted several thousand Sioux and Cheyenne and decided to attack. What do you think happened to Custer and his men? In a few minutes, all of Custers 260 men were killed.

Crazy Horse

Sitting Bull

George Custer

Marcus Reno

Frederick Benteen

The Battle Of Little Big Horn

Sitting Bull George Custer

Versus

The Battle Of Little Big Horn

Yes theres such thing as a white buffalo