USHistory-Chapter17

Chapter Overview

Title: Go West Young Man! Westward Expansion, 1840-1900

Subject: U.S. History

Manifest Destiny

• Coined by John O’Sullivan in 1845: The phrase 'Manifest Destiny' encapsulated the 19th-century belief that it was America's divine right and destiny to expand its territory across North America.

• Cultural and Political Justification: This belief was used as justification for westward expansion, supported by the federal government under various administrations. The idea of Manifest Destiny was not merely territorial but also implied a political and cultural extension of American values and institutions.

• Assumption of Empty Lands: Proponents incorrectly assumed that the western territories were empty and unclaimed, disregarding the presence of Native American tribes and their rich cultures.

Western Mythologies

• Themes of Rugged Individualism: The narrative celebrated the self-reliance and determination of individuals, often symbolized by the cowboy figure.

• Masculine Ideals: The mythologization of cowboys and their lawless, adventurous lives proliferated in popular culture, including films (e.g., John Wayne's characters).

Migration Patterns

• Pre-Civil War Migration: The movement of white Americans to the West occurred gradually until the Civil War, with relatively moderate numbers of settlers.

• Post-Civil War Migration (from 1860s): A significant acceleration in movement based on various government policies and incentives spurred massive waves of migration; by 1900, 1/3 of Americans resided west of the Mississippi River. The cultural significance and romanticization of the West rose during this period, highlighted by iconic figures such as Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody, who played crucial roles in shaping the mythos of the frontier.

Government Aid for Westward Expansion

• Land Surveying: Federal land surveyors were instrumental in charting territories for incentive grants and sales, facilitating settlement.

• Native American Land Treaties: The U.S. government enforced treaties that often coerced Native Americans into ceding their lands, paving the way for white settler expansion.

• Military Presence: Army forts served to protect settlers and established themselves as vital trading posts in the West.

  • Buffalo Soldiers (1866): Comprised of the first all-Black peacetime regiments in the U.S. Army, they played key roles in maintaining order, protecting settlers, and serving as early national park rangers.

Homestead and Railway Acts

• Homestead Act (1862): The act was designed to encourage westward expansion by offering 160 acres of federal land to settlers with the requirement of improving the land over a period of five years.

• Pacific Railway Act (1862): This legislation facilitated the construction of the transcontinental railroad, granting large swathes of land to railroad companies, along with loans aimed at promoting infrastructure development necessary for migration and commerce.

Migration Demographics

• By Class: Initially, from 1840-1860s, migration was primarily by moderately wealthy settlers; from 1865-1900, the demographics shifted towards modest means and poorer families seeking opportunities.

• By Race and Origin: Early migrants (1840s-1860s) were predominantly white, whereas the later period saw an influx of immigrants from diverse backgrounds and an increase in African American settlers seeking better lives.

• By Gender: The Westward expansion saw predominantly male settlers, with men making up approximately 75% of the population in the early years.

Life in the West

• Economy: Farming emerged as the primary livelihood, along with vital activities such as bison hunting, cattle driving, and mining, which were essential for the economic viability of new settlements.

  • Homesteaders: Often referred to as 'sodbusters', homesteaders primarily cultivated crops like wheat and corn, facing significant challenges including crop failures and limited resources.

• Debt Issues: Many settlers fell into debt due to the costs of farming implements and experienced considerable hardships when crop prices dropped, leading to economic turmoil.

• Women's Roles: Women played essential roles in homesteading, contributing to both domestic tasks and agricultural labor, often managing households and assisting with farming efforts.

Mining

• Gold and Silver Rushes: The rushes that peaked in California (1849), Colorado (1858), and Nevada (1859) attracted a massive influx of prospectors, transforming the economy and demographic landscape of the West.

• Corporate Mining: The late 1860s shifted the focus from individual prospecting to corporate mining, including the widespread adoption of hydraulic mining techniques to extract precious metals efficiently.

Boom Towns to Ghost Towns

• Transient Nature: Towns that sprang up around mining operations often rapidly became ghost towns as resources were depleted, with Bodie, California, being a notable example.

Impact of Bison Hunting

• Severe Population Decline: The mass slaughter of bison drastically reduced their populations, from millions to mere hundreds, leading to profound negative effects on the lifestyles and cultures of the Plains Indians who relied on the bison for sustenance, trade, and cultural practices.

Cattle Driving and Ranching

• Cattle Drives (1860s-70s): Longhorn cattle were herded from Texas to railheads along prominent trails, particularly the Chisholm Trail, marking significant economic and cultural practices.

• Barbed Wire Invention (1873): This technological advancement revolutionized the ranching industry, enabling farmers to fence their lands more effectively and control livestock.

The Wild West

• Characterization: The era was notorious for violence in mining towns, conflicts over water rights and land, and the lawlessness that accompanied rapid settlement and resource competition.

Women in the West

• Varied Roles: Women in the West took on diverse roles ranging from homesteaders' wives to educators and sex workers, often contributing significantly to their communities.

• Early Voting Rights: Some Western states led the nation in granting women voting rights, reflecting broader societal changes in gender roles during this period.

Native Americans and Territorial Losses

• Impact of Settlements: Native American tribes faced significant territorial losses due to settler colonization, resulting from aggressive government policies and military actions between 1850-1890, fundamentally altering their way of life.

Native American Policy

• Focus on Removal and Assimilation: Federal policies centered on the removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands and efforts to assimilate them into mainstream American culture, often neglecting their rights and sovereignty.

• Criticisms of Policies: Many leaders criticized the injustices faced by Native Americans, citing broken treaties and systemic violence as severe issues.

  • Attempts at Reform: Reform efforts included Americanization initiatives through boarding schools and the Dawes Act, leading to the fragmentation of tribal lands and the loss of over 100 million acres.

Hispanic Peoples and Settlement Issues

• Post-U.S.-Mexico War: Following the U.S.-Mexico War, many Hispanic individuals experienced land dispossession, discrimination, and cultural erasure in the new American territories, facing difficulties in retaining their properties and livelihoods.

Chinese Immigrants

• Contributions and Discrimination: Chinese immigrants played an essential role in constructing railroads but faced increasing exclusion and discrimination, culminating in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 that severely restricted their immigration and rights.

Conclusion: Idealized Western Expansion

• Romanticized Narrative vs. Reality: The media and influential figures promoted the idea of 'Go West' as a pathway to opportunity and prosperity, often glossing over the significant hardships and struggles faced by settlers, as documented in contemporary art and literature.