Technology Technology and the Westand the West

The The Essentials:Essentials:AH2.H.3 - Understand the factors that led to exploration, AH2.H.3 - Understand the factors that led to exploration,

settlement, movement, and expansion and their impact on United settlement, movement, and expansion and their impact on United States development over time.States development over time.

Class objectives: Students should be able to understand…Class objectives: Students should be able to understand…How and why the birth of the cattle industry led to the era of the American cowboy and new patterns of migration and settlement in the southwestern United States.How and why aridity, availability of land and new land laws influenced the westward migration and settlement of various groups, such as homesteaders and “sodbusters”.

HomesteadHomestead Act Act 18621862 $10 fee laid claim to 160 $10 fee laid claim to 160

acres of public land; acres of public land; occupant received title after occupant received title after living there for 5 yearsliving there for 5 years

Anyone could file a claim, Anyone could file a claim, except former Confederates!except former Confederates!

1.6 million homesteads were 1.6 million homesteads were awardedawarded

MorrillMorrill Land-Grant Act Land-Grant Act 18621862 States were awarded 30,000 acres of States were awarded 30,000 acres of

federal land for each member of the federal land for each member of the state’s Congressional delegationstate’s Congressional delegation

States could use or sell that land to States could use or sell that land to fund the creation of colleges which fund the creation of colleges which would teach would teach agriculturalagricultural and and military skillsmilitary skills

Colleges started under the Morrill Act Colleges started under the Morrill Act include Auburn, UConn, Florida, include Auburn, UConn, Florida, Georgia, Purdue, Iowa St., Kansas St., Georgia, Purdue, Iowa St., Kansas St., Kentucky, LSU, Maryland, MIT, Kentucky, LSU, Maryland, MIT, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio St., Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio St., Penn St., Clemson, Tennessee, Va. Penn St., Clemson, Tennessee, Va. Tech, & NCSUTech, & NCSU

Oklahoma Land RushOklahoma Land Rush As available land in the west As available land in the west

began to disappear, pressure built began to disappear, pressure built to open the Indian Territory to open the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) to settlers(Oklahoma) to settlers

1889: Congress agreed to open 1889: Congress agreed to open the Territory to white settlersthe Territory to white settlers

April 22, 1889: Thousands April 22, 1889: Thousands gathered on the border to race to gathered on the border to race to claim a share of 2 million acres; claim a share of 2 million acres; some (called some (called “Sooners“Sooners”) snuck ”) snuck into the territory early to claim the into the territory early to claim the best landsbest lands

"Far & Away"

RanchingRanching Spanish had introduced cattle to the region in the Spanish had introduced cattle to the region in the

1600s; herds had been left to roam free and had 1600s; herds had been left to roam free and had evolved into the evolved into the tough, lean Texas Longhornstough, lean Texas Longhorns

Most cattle ranching took place in New Mexico & Most cattle ranching took place in New Mexico & TexasTexas

Early ranchers took advantage of the Open Range , Early ranchers took advantage of the Open Range , the vast open grasslands of the Great Plains owned the vast open grasslands of the Great Plains owned by the governmentby the government

During the Civil War, beef prices soared due to a kill During the Civil War, beef prices soared due to a kill off of Eastern cattle to feed troopsoff of Eastern cattle to feed troops

Railroads Railroads built in 1860s allowed western cattle to built in 1860s allowed western cattle to be moved east to meet beef demandsbe moved east to meet beef demands

Cattle were driven north out of Texas to railheads in Cattle were driven north out of Texas to railheads in Abilene & Dodge City, KS and Sedalia, MO using Abilene & Dodge City, KS and Sedalia, MO using routes such as the routes such as the Chisholm TrailChisholm Trail

Cowboys were a mix of former Confederate Cowboys were a mix of former Confederate soldiers, Hispanics, and freed slavessoldiers, Hispanics, and freed slaves

Need for a Need for a TranscontinentalTranscontinental RailroadRailroad

To connect East Coast to Oregon and To connect East Coast to Oregon and CaliforniaCalifornia

Would reduce travel time from months to Would reduce travel time from months to daysdays

Would lead to growth along the rail lineWould lead to growth along the rail line But where should it be built?But where should it be built? Southerners wanted a route out of Southerners wanted a route out of New New

OrleansOrleans, which required purchase of land , which required purchase of land from Mexico (from Mexico (Gadsden PurchaseGadsden Purchase) ) arranged by Secretary of War Jefferson arranged by Secretary of War Jefferson DavisDavis

Northerners wanted a route out of Northerners wanted a route out of ChicagoChicago, but Southerners blocked their , but Southerners blocked their efforts in hopes that they could barter the efforts in hopes that they could barter the route for an expansion of route for an expansion of slaveryslavery

Pacific Railway Pacific Railway ActAct 18621862 Provided for construction of Provided for construction of

a transcontinental railroad a transcontinental railroad as a joint effort between the as a joint effort between the Union Pacific Union Pacific and and Central Central Pacific Pacific RailroadsRailroads

Both companies were given Both companies were given land along the right-of-way land along the right-of-way to encourage competition to encourage competition and rapid constructionand rapid construction

The Union PacificThe Union Pacific Led by Led by Grenville DodgeGrenville Dodge, ,

former union general former union general known for his known for his organizational and organizational and managerial skillsmanagerial skills

Started rail line heading Started rail line heading west out of Omaha west out of Omaha Nebraska in 1865Nebraska in 1865

Union Pacific WorkersUnion Pacific Workers Civil War vetsCivil War vets Irish immigrantsIrish immigrants Bankrupt miners and Bankrupt miners and

farmersfarmers 10,000 men living in camps 10,000 men living in camps

along the tracks and in along the tracks and in rolling dormsrolling dorms

Lots of rough living – Lots of rough living – gambling, drinking, fightinggambling, drinking, fighting

The Central PacificThe Central Pacific Organized in California under 4 Organized in California under 4

investors, including investors, including Leland Leland StanfordStanford, future governor of , future governor of California and founder of California and founder of Stanford UniversityStanford University

Hired 10,000 Chinese laborersHired 10,000 Chinese laborers Had drawback of having to Had drawback of having to

have all equipment for railroad have all equipment for railroad and for construction brought by and for construction brought by ship ship

Promontory, Utah Promontory, Utah 18691869

Time Zones IntroducedTime Zones Introduced Time had been measured Time had been measured

purely by the sun’s position, so purely by the sun’s position, so what time it was determined what time it was determined locallylocally

1883: American Railway 1883: American Railway Association divided nation into Association divided nation into 4 time zones to ease railroad 4 time zones to ease railroad scheduling and improve safety scheduling and improve safety by eliminating wrecks caused by eliminating wrecks caused by discrepancies in how time by discrepancies in how time was measuredwas measured

Standardization of TrainsStandardization of Trains Hundreds of railroads Hundreds of railroads

consolidated into just 7 major consolidated into just 7 major companies, increasing companies, increasing efficiency, lowering shipping efficiency, lowering shipping and travel costs, and allowing and travel costs, and allowing the development of improved the development of improved technologies which further technologies which further increased efficiencyincreased efficiency

Railroads tied America’s Railroads tied America’s regions together after the regions together after the war, helping end war, helping end sectionalismsectionalism

The The Land Grant Land Grant SystemSystem Federal government gave Federal government gave

land to railroad companies land to railroad companies alongside their rail lines to alongside their rail lines to encourage developmentencourage development

Railroads sold this land to Railroads sold this land to settlers to raise the capital settlers to raise the capital needed to build the railroadneeded to build the railroad

Over 120 million acres of Over 120 million acres of public lands were given to public lands were given to rail companies in mid-1800srail companies in mid-1800s

Plow TechnologyPlow Technology Jethro Wood patented an Jethro Wood patented an

iron-bladed plow in 1819iron-bladed plow in 1819 John Deere John Deere patented a patented a

steel-bladed plow in 1837 steel-bladed plow in 1837 that could cut through tough that could cut through tough sod of the Great Plainssod of the Great Plains

Steel plows were the only Steel plows were the only way for “way for “sodbustersodbusters” to s” to farm the prairie, but also led farm the prairie, but also led to the breakdown of prairie to the breakdown of prairie soils and loss of topsoil to soils and loss of topsoil to wind & water erosionwind & water erosion

Mechanical ReaperMechanical ReaperDeveloped byDeveloped by Cyrus Cyrus

McCormick McCormick in 1834in 1834Machine pulled by a Machine pulled by a

horse could harvest far horse could harvest far more grain than a man more grain than a man swinging a scythe, led to swinging a scythe, led to farmers planting more farmers planting more acreage and an increase acreage and an increase in grain productionin grain production

Dry-farmingDry-farming Plant seeds deep in the Plant seeds deep in the

ground where there is ground where there is enough moisture to allow enough moisture to allow them to germinatethem to germinate

Doesn’t require surface Doesn’t require surface watering or depend as watering or depend as heavily on regular rainfallheavily on regular rainfall

Mainly used for Mainly used for wheatwheat and and corncorn farming in the Great farming in the Great PlainsPlains

The Wheat BeltThe Wheat Belt

Range WarsRange Wars As farmers moved onto the As farmers moved onto the

plains, they needed to define plains, they needed to define and enclose their fieldsand enclose their fields

As sheep ranchers moved in, As sheep ranchers moved in, they needed access to water they needed access to water and pasturesand pastures

Both groups were in conflict Both groups were in conflict with the cattle ranchers who with the cattle ranchers who depended on the open range depended on the open range to graze and move their herdsto graze and move their herds

Brief but violent range wars Brief but violent range wars became commonbecame common

Barbed Wire Barbed Wire Ends the Open Range EraEnds the Open Range Era

Invented by Joseph Glidden in Invented by Joseph Glidden in 18741874

Allowed huge areas of land to Allowed huge areas of land to be fenced off cheaply and be fenced off cheaply and easilyeasily

Allowed farmers and sheep Allowed farmers and sheep ranchers to fence in the prairie ranchers to fence in the prairie and shut down routes (like the and shut down routes (like the Chisholm Trail) for driving cattleChisholm Trail) for driving cattle

Forced cattle ranchers to Forced cattle ranchers to change their practices, organize change their practices, organize defined, enclosed ranchesdefined, enclosed ranches

Farmers Fall on Hard TimesFarmers Fall on Hard Times In 1880s, a serious drought In 1880s, a serious drought

struckstruck In 1890s, excessive wheat In 1890s, excessive wheat

production caused prices production caused prices to dropto drop

Farmers mortgaged their Farmers mortgaged their land to banks to survive, land to banks to survive, but often lost their land but often lost their land when they couldn’t meet when they couldn’t meet their mortgage paymentstheir mortgage payments

Commercial FarmingCommercial Farming Practiced mechanized Practiced mechanized

farmingfarming Usually 50,000+ acresUsually 50,000+ acres Called “Called “bonanza farmsbonanza farms”” Massive investment was Massive investment was

required in land and required in land and equipmentequipment

Required hired laborers Required hired laborers (most regular farms were (most regular farms were family worked)family worked)

Women in the WestWomen in the West Outnumbered by men, so they had Outnumbered by men, so they had

more opportunitiesmore opportunities Could own property & businesses, Could own property & businesses,

became influential community leadersbecame influential community leaders Most were farmwivesMost were farmwives Some worked as cooks or laundressesSome worked as cooks or laundresses Some worked at “Some worked at “hurdy-gurdyhurdy-gurdy” ”

houseshouses A few were adventurers, such as Annie A few were adventurers, such as Annie

Oakley and Calamity Jane BurkeOakley and Calamity Jane Burke

Born as Libby Thompson in 1855 in Belton, Born as Libby Thompson in 1855 in Belton, Texas, Squirrel Tooth Alice received her name Texas, Squirrel Tooth Alice received her name due to a gap between her front teeth and her due to a gap between her front teeth and her penchant for keeping prairie dogs as pets. She penchant for keeping prairie dogs as pets. She was kidnapped as a young girl by the Comanche was kidnapped as a young girl by the Comanche tribe. Kept for three years, she was shunned by tribe. Kept for three years, she was shunned by society as a "marked" woman upon her release.society as a "marked" woman upon her release.

At the age of 14 years old, she ran away to At the age of 14 years old, she ran away to Abilene, Kansas, and became a dance hall girl Abilene, Kansas, and became a dance hall girl and prostitute. After marrying Billy Thompson in and prostitute. After marrying Billy Thompson in 1873, she moved from Kansas to Texas to 1873, she moved from Kansas to Texas to Colorado.Colorado.

In Sweetwater, she and her husband bought a In Sweetwater, she and her husband bought a ranch, and she opened a dance hall and ranch, and she opened a dance hall and successful brothel. She bore nine children (three successful brothel. She bore nine children (three of which were said to be her husband's), and of which were said to be her husband's), and retired successfully in 1921 at the age of 66.retired successfully in 1921 at the age of 66.

Squirrel Tooth AliceSquirrel Tooth Alice

Immigrants in the WestImmigrants in the WestTThousands of housands of IrishIrish

immigrants flooded the immigrants flooded the Midwest in the 1840s through Midwest in the 1840s through 1870s1870s

Thousands of Thousands of ChineseChinese immigrants arrived in immigrants arrived in California to seek job California to seek job opportunitiesopportunities

Both groups would play a key Both groups would play a key role in building the West’s role in building the West’s railroadsrailroads

African-Americans in the WestAfrican-Americans in the West

Played a major role in the Played a major role in the development of the Westdevelopment of the West

Worked on the railroadsWorked on the railroadsWorked as cowboysWorked as cowboysSettled in as farmersSettled in as farmersServed as soldiers in the Served as soldiers in the

Indian WarsIndian Wars

““Buffalo soldiersBuffalo soldiers””44 all-black regiments of the all-black regiments of the

US Army created in 1866US Army created in 1866 Nicknamed “buffalo soldiers” Nicknamed “buffalo soldiers”

by the Native Americans by the Native Americans they fought against for their they fought against for their dark, curly hair and fierce dark, curly hair and fierce fighting ability, both of which fighting ability, both of which reminded Indians of the reminded Indians of the buffalobuffalo

The Exodusters:The Exodusters: Exodusters was a name given to African

Americans who fled the Southern United States for Kansas in 1879 and 1880.

After the end of Reconstruction, racial oppression and rumors of the reinstitution of slavery led many freedmen to seek a new place to live.

Many migrated to, and then settled, primarily in Kansas because of its fame as the land of the abolitionist John Brown (1800–1859).

The state was reputed to be more progressive and tolerant than most others. Separatist leaders such as Benjamin "Pap" Singleton had promoted it among black Americans.