Ch.17: Westward Expansion

Manifest Destiny

view that was a divine right & obligation to settle American west

Homestead Act 1862

Could receive 160 acres if you “improved the land” within 5 years

Millions of acres of public land claimed

California Gold rush

Mining brings thousands west

200,000 people come between 1849-60

Cattle industry

Wild cattle in Texas rounded up and driven north by “cowboys”

Todays image of “the American west” influenced heavily by these cowboys, cow-towns, outlaws, “lawmen”, etc.

Transcontinental Railroad

Rail line connects east to west

Lines meet in Utah (May 1869)

Battle of Little Bighorn

Sioux & Cheyenne Indians led by Sitting Bull & Crazy Horse

Defeat George Custer & US 7th Calvert

Worst defeat for US military in the west

Custer ignored warnings of large native force (outnumbered 10-1)

Bear River Battle/Massacre 1863

Over 400 Shoshone killed in southern Idaho

Geronimo 1886

Apache leader of last American Indian fighting forced to surrender