2020thth Century Century

Chapter 18Chapter 18

United StatesUnited States

Adventures in Time and PlaceAdventures in Time and Place

Rails Across the CountryRails Across the Country

People in the East had no quick People in the East had no quick way to reach the rich farm lands way to reach the rich farm lands and gold mines of the West.and gold mines of the West.

Gold Rush in California.Gold Rush in California. Wagon trains took 4 to 6 months Wagon trains took 4 to 6 months

and it was dangerous.and it was dangerous. Water routes took months too.Water routes took months too. A transcontinental railroad was A transcontinental railroad was

needed.needed. A transcontinental railroad is a A transcontinental railroad is a

railroad that crosses the entire railroad that crosses the entire continent.continent.

Planning and Building the RailroadPlanning and Building the Railroad Problems – where to start; varied Problems – where to start; varied

geography like mountains, geography like mountains, deserts, and plains; conflicts with deserts, and plains; conflicts with Native AmericansNative Americans

Who – Union Pacific Railroad Who – Union Pacific Railroad (west from Omaha, Nebraska) and (west from Omaha, Nebraska) and Central Pacific Railroad (east from Central Pacific Railroad (east from Sacramento, California)Sacramento, California)

Workers – Chinese immigrants, Workers – Chinese immigrants, Irish, German, former Civil War Irish, German, former Civil War soldiers, and free African soldiers, and free African Americans.Americans.

On May 10, 1869 the two railroads On May 10, 1869 the two railroads met at Promontory Point, Utah.met at Promontory Point, Utah.

6 years of work to lay 1,700 miles 6 years of work to lay 1,700 miles of track. The last spike was made of track. The last spike was made of gold. of gold.

Many people died, Native Many people died, Native Americans lost their land and Americans lost their land and buffalo, but people and products buffalo, but people and products could travel faster.could travel faster.

The Race to Build the RailroadThe Race to Build the Railroad the Central Pacific the Central Pacific

workers laid 10 miles of workers laid 10 miles of track in a single day! track in a single day!

The two railroad The two railroad companies, eager for companies, eager for payment, kept building payment, kept building tracks right past each tracks right past each other.other.

Congress picked Congress picked Promontory Point, Utah.Promontory Point, Utah.

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Life on the RangeLife on the Range

In 1866 a steer could be In 1866 a steer could be sold for $5 in Texas, but in sold for $5 in Texas, but in the North where cattle the North where cattle were scarce, a steer was were scarce, a steer was worth $40.worth $40.

As population grew so did As population grew so did the demand for beef.the demand for beef.

People realized if they People realized if they could get their cattle to the could get their cattle to the railroads they could ship railroads they could ship them east and sell them them east and sell them for more money….the for more money….the cattle drive is born.cattle drive is born.

The Cattle DriveThe Cattle Drive

About ¼ to 1/3 of all cowboys About ¼ to 1/3 of all cowboys were African Americans or were African Americans or Mexican Americans.Mexican Americans.

Most of the white cowboys had Most of the white cowboys had fought for the Confederacy.fought for the Confederacy.

Life on the range was one of Life on the range was one of unending work.unending work.

Trail boss was in chargeTrail boss was in charge Chuck wagon held food and Chuck wagon held food and

suppliessupplies 2,000 – 3,000 longhorn cattle 2,000 – 3,000 longhorn cattle

tended by 8 – 20 cowboys.tended by 8 – 20 cowboys. In a stampede, cattle scattered In a stampede, cattle scattered

wildly.wildly.

The Cattle IndustryThe Cattle Industry One of the most famous cattle One of the most famous cattle

drive trails was the Chisholm drive trails was the Chisholm Trail.Trail.

Railheads were towns that Railheads were towns that developed along the railroad.developed along the railroad.

Towns had stockyards (cattle Towns had stockyards (cattle pens), hotels, stores, pens), hotels, stores, restaurants, and other restaurants, and other businesses to make money businesses to make money from the cattle trade as well as from the cattle trade as well as from the railroads.from the railroads.

Meat-packing plants in Chicago.Meat-packing plants in Chicago. Railroads helped the cattle Railroads helped the cattle

industry grow, but later put a industry grow, but later put a stop to cattle drives and stop to cattle drives and cowboys by taking up land.cowboys by taking up land.

Homesteading on the PlainsHomesteading on the Plains

The Great Plains was The Great Plains was known as the “Great known as the “Great American Desert.”American Desert.”

The U.S. government and The U.S. government and the railroads sold off vast the railroads sold off vast areas of land for cheap areas of land for cheap prices.prices.

Many people from the Many people from the East; African Americans East; African Americans from the South; and from the South; and immigrants from France, immigrants from France, Denmark, Norway, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Russia took Sweden, and Russia took advantage of the offer.advantage of the offer.

Tornado Alley is a nickname given to the unique location in the United States where tornadoes are most likely to hit. Tornado Alley is located in the Central Plains and includes Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. Also included are Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, and portions of the other surrounding states.

HomesteadersHomesteaders The Homestead Act gave 160 The Homestead Act gave 160

acres of public land to adult men acres of public land to adult men 21 or older, widows, or heads of 21 or older, widows, or heads of a family. All they had to do was a family. All they had to do was pay a small fee, farm the land, pay a small fee, farm the land, and live on it 5 yrs.and live on it 5 yrs.

People who claimed land this People who claimed land this way were called homesteaders.way were called homesteaders.

The Homestead Act was the The Homestead Act was the government’s way of government’s way of encouraging people to farm the encouraging people to farm the plains even though it was hard plains even though it was hard work because of few trees and work because of few trees and water and harsh climate.water and harsh climate.

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SodbustersSodbusters The new settlers became known The new settlers became known

as sodbusters because the top as sodbusters because the top layer of ground, or sod, was so layer of ground, or sod, was so hard to “bust” through.hard to “bust” through.

James Oliver invented a plow they James Oliver invented a plow they could use in 1877.could use in 1877.

The sod was used as a building The sod was used as a building material since there were few material since there were few trees or stone to use.trees or stone to use.

Houses made from sod “brick” Houses made from sod “brick” were called soddies.were called soddies.

They were dark, uncomfortable, They were dark, uncomfortable, and had bugs.and had bugs.

Hardships – prairie fires, Hardships – prairie fires, unpredictable weather, and bugs. unpredictable weather, and bugs. Dry grass caught fire easily, Dry grass caught fire easily, storms suddenly appeared, and storms suddenly appeared, and grasshoppers and locusts showed grasshoppers and locusts showed up in the summer.up in the summer.

In 1874, the “Great Grasshopper In 1874, the “Great Grasshopper Year,” they were piled 6 inches Year,” they were piled 6 inches deep in some places and could deep in some places and could eat 100 acres of corn in a few eat 100 acres of corn in a few hours. Many settlers left.hours. Many settlers left.

Technology made life easier – Technology made life easier – windmills, irrigation, a new kind of windmills, irrigation, a new kind of wheat from Russia, barbed wirewheat from Russia, barbed wire

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ExodustersExodusters Many African Americans came Many African Americans came

looking for freedom from violence looking for freedom from violence and unfair treatment.and unfair treatment.

Nicodemus, Kansas was founded Nicodemus, Kansas was founded by African Americans from by African Americans from Kentucky.Kentucky.

African Americans were African Americans were encouraged to leave the south.encouraged to leave the south.

Many freed slaves believed that Many freed slaves believed that Kansas could be a type of Kansas could be a type of promised land.promised land.

In 1879 alone, 20,000 African In 1879 alone, 20,000 African Americans went to Kansas. So Americans went to Kansas. So many left that they were called many left that they were called Exodusters.Exodusters.

Many white Southerners jailed or Many white Southerners jailed or refused to let black passengers refused to let black passengers onto boats leaving the South. onto boats leaving the South.

However, the Exodusters left a However, the Exodusters left a legacy of successful farming legacy of successful farming communities in Kansas.communities in Kansas.

The Plains The Plains WarsWars

Railroads, cattle, and Railroads, cattle, and farms were taking over farms were taking over land that once belonged land that once belonged to the Native Americans to the Native Americans of the Plains.of the Plains.

Buffalo were shot, cattle Buffalo were shot, cattle ate grass the buffalo ate grass the buffalo needed, homesteaders needed, homesteaders plowed and fenced the plowed and fenced the land.land.

By 1890 50 million buffalo By 1890 50 million buffalo shrank to less than 1,000.shrank to less than 1,000.

Without buffalo Native Without buffalo Native Americans of the Plains Americans of the Plains lost their food, shelter, lost their food, shelter, and clothing.and clothing.

Native American Native American LandsLands

The Homestead Act gave The Homestead Act gave settlers property rights.settlers property rights.

Property rights are rights to own Property rights are rights to own or use something – such as land or use something – such as land – for gain, profit, or sale.– for gain, profit, or sale.

Native Americans did not Native Americans did not believe in land ownership, but believe in land ownership, but they fought each other over they fought each other over hunting grounds.hunting grounds.

The government signed treaties The government signed treaties that said they would not take that said they would not take over Native American lands, but over Native American lands, but they broke their promises.they broke their promises.

Native Americans were forced Native Americans were forced onto reservations, or land set onto reservations, or land set aside for them.aside for them.

Most Native Americans didn’t Most Native Americans didn’t want to live on reservations.want to live on reservations.

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The Battle of The Battle of Little Big HornLittle Big Horn

The government promised to leave The government promised to leave Native American land alone.Native American land alone.

Colonel George Custer led a group of Colonel George Custer led a group of miners, journalists, and photographers miners, journalists, and photographers into the Black Hills. They found gold. into the Black Hills. They found gold. So, 15,000 miners rushed to Lakota So, 15,000 miners rushed to Lakota lands to mine it.lands to mine it.

The government tried to buy the land, The government tried to buy the land, but the Lakota refused. So, the but the Lakota refused. So, the government tried to force them off their government tried to force them off their land.land.

Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse led the Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse led the Native Americans against the Native Americans against the government.government.

The Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho The Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho united to protect their land around the united to protect their land around the Black Hills.Black Hills.

They outnumbered Colonel Custer and They outnumbered Colonel Custer and his 600 Calvary soldiers.his 600 Calvary soldiers.

Calvary fight on horseback.Calvary fight on horseback. Custer split up his men, unknowing he Custer split up his men, unknowing he

was outnumbered. Custer and about was outnumbered. Custer and about 200 soldiers died.200 soldiers died.

The Battle of Little Big Horn, also known The Battle of Little Big Horn, also known as “Custer’s Last Stand,” was to be the as “Custer’s Last Stand,” was to be the last major Native American victory on last major Native American victory on the Plains.the Plains.

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The Nez PerceThe Nez Perce The Nez Perce wanted to keep The Nez Perce wanted to keep

their lands along the Wallowa their lands along the Wallowa River in Oregon.River in Oregon.

In 1876, the government In 1876, the government demanded that they move to a demanded that they move to a reservation.reservation.

Chief Joseph refused.Chief Joseph refused. Fighting between white settlers Fighting between white settlers

and young Nez Perce led to and young Nez Perce led to war.war.

The Nez Perce were forced to The Nez Perce were forced to flee to Canada.flee to Canada.

They were only 40 miles from They were only 40 miles from the Canadian border when a the Canadian border when a large force of soldiers caught up large force of soldiers caught up with them.with them.

Chief Joseph surrendered on Chief Joseph surrendered on October 5, 1877.October 5, 1877.

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