Monday-
How did the U.S. change during the late 1800's and early 1900's?
1880's for decades presentation.
Moving west and industrial revolution.
Why did settlers move to the great plains/west?
Describe a cowboy.
How did the US gov't deal with Native Americans in the mid to late 1800's? What were their policies?
In between Missouri river and the Rocky Mountains were the Great Plains. It was considered a dessert by people and they passed it by. That's why California was a state before the Midwestern states. Farming, gold rush, animals were reasons that we moved west. Manifest Destiny- A god given right to expand west from sea to sea. Cattle ranching was a huge business. Sheep herding. Farming. Homestead Act- gave free land to people who promised to farm. Gold and silver mining. Working on the railroad. Hunting/trapping/adventure. Mountain man.
Tuesday-
Bison hunting was done by Americans for sport. Native Americans were reliant.
Population in 1800- 15 million buffalo
1870- 1,000
2,000- 200,000
Moving west for military to fight Native Americans. Forts all over great plains.
Cattle Ranching and cowboys-
Cattle ranching peak years were post civil war to 1880. This was driving cattle from Texas to Kansas. A lot of African Americans. Cattle ranching culture came from Mexico. Dangerous because of native american attacks, storms causing stampedes. Long horn steer was the most common. Fatten the cattle up as much as you could so you can get more money after they lose weight after exercise. Trails all started from Texas and went to Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Colorado. After long drives the Cowboys had a lot of money and then they did a lot of drinking, gambling, fights, prostitution, gunfights- Dodge City, Kansas. Wyatt Earp- famous sheriff. Gunfight at OK Corral
Open range- Area of land where cattle roam free.
Rail head towns- towns at the end of the railroads.
Ranchers- people who owned ranches and cattle.
Texas Longhorns- Cross bread of cattle.
Long drive- Herding and moving cattle.
Cattle barons- Bigger ranchers (pushed out smaller ranchers)
25% of cowboys were ex-slaves.
Lonely and dangerous.
Cattle industry fell when the price of beef fell.
Wednesday-
Describe the importance of the buffalo to the native Americans.
The buffalo hide was used for clothing and tipis. The horns were used as cups, bowls, and ladles. The hooves were used as glue and rattles. The bones were used for arrow heads, jewelry, knives.
Thursday-
Omaha stockyards were the second biggest after Chicago. Omaha, Chicago, Kansas City, Saint Louis.
Long drives were necessary because their weren't railroads. People made a lot of money, demand of beef was high. It ended as demand went down and railroads were implemented. Farmers put up boundaries on their land.
U.S. Native American policies-
Reservations- in 1834 it was a large area in the great plains. 20 years later Texas is a state and now Oklahoma is the only reservation. In 1907 Indian and Oklahoma territory merged. 1775- most except New Orleans area. 1850- western half. 1894- Eastern half of Oklahoma, a little in Arizona and South Dakota. 1992- about the same but way less in Oklahoma.
Destruction of Buffalo- People killed buffalo out of spite.
Dawes Act (1887)- Gave land to Native American families to farm. Ended tribal ownership of land. Those that do this will be granted U.S. citizenship. They wanted to "Americanize" the Native Americans. A lot of people found a way to take the land that was supposed to be set aside for the Native Americans. Not required but it was better than going to war with America. Ended in 1930 and allowed them to go back to their original way of life.
Indian war battles-
Friday-
How did railroads and the Homestead Act help settle the Great Plains?
Created towns, brought people out, people had to build the railroad. Trans-continental railroad was the first railroad that went from the east to the west coast. Homestead act gave Americans 160 acres of free land as long as they promised to farm it. Rich people took advantage of this and hired people to occupy land and then it would be worth a lot more in the future.
What challenges did the settlers face on the great plains?
Lack of water for crops, Native American attacks, bad weather (Snow, dust storms, flooding), Lonely, grasshopper plagues, hard work, lack of trees, railroad prices, debt.
How did settlers solve some of these problems?
Lonely- Going to town occasionally, Grange was set up to provide activities and entertainment.
Insect plagues- Locusts hit hard in 1870 and then extinct as of 1902. Different things that the farmers did and floods and other weather. The buffalo were almost gone and people think the locusts did well when the buffalo were around. Technology caught up.
Bad weather- started crop rotation
Native American attacks- Usually low amount of casualties. U.S. military took care of it.
Hard work- machinery
Lack of trees- Sod houses, Dug out houses, eventually wood that came from railroad.
Railroad prices and debt- Mortgaged their farms to buy more seed and supplies
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