6.2 Westward Expansion

WESTWARD EXPANSION (Economic)

  • Concept of Manifest Destiny

    • Visual prompts to reflect on western expansion, including potential questions.

    • Noteworthy aspects of images related to westward expansion.

MINERS MOVE WEST

  • California Gold Rush

    • In the mid-1800s, only a few thousand settlers had ventured into the West.

    • 1848: Discovery of gold in California.

    • 1849: Tens of thousands of “Forty-Niners” migrated to California in pursuit of wealth.

    • Gold rush phenomenon repeated in subsequent decades with further precious metal discoveries.

    • Emergence of boom towns, which later turned into ghost towns as prospectors moved on.

    • Increased conflicts with Native Americans due to encroachment.

    • Prompted governmental development of the Transcontinental Railroad for better access to the West.

RAILROADS OPEN THE WEST

  • The Transcontinental Railroad

    • Initiated in 1862 by Union Pacific & Central Pacific Railroad Companies.

    • Union Pacific:

    • Started in Nebraska and headed westward.

    • Labor force comprised Civil War veterans, former slaves, and Irish immigrants.

    • Faced conflicts with Native Americans along the route.

    • Central Pacific:

    • Originated in California, moving east.

    • Employed thousands of low-paid Chinese workers.

    • Battled extreme temperatures and challenging mountainous terrain.

    • Significant loss of life while tunneling through mountains.

    • Completion and significance:

    • Tracks connected at Promontory Point, UT on May 10, 1869.

    • Reduced travel time from Atlantic to Pacific coast from 6 months to 6 days.

    • Facilitated settlement in the west, further intensifying conflicts with Native Americans.

    • Established connections between eastern and western markets, enhancing trade across the country.

SETTLING THE GREAT PLAINS

  • The Homestead Act (1862)

    • Legislative move to promote western settlement.

    • Allowed individuals, including former slaves, women, and immigrants, to claim up to 160 acres on the Great Plains for a nominal $10 filing fee.

    • Many settlers lived in small sod homes:

    • Dwellings provided minimal light and air.

    • Attracted various pests such as snakes and insects.

    • Various hardships faced by settlers:

    • Extreme weather conditions including storms, droughts, prairie fires in summer, and blizzards in winter.

  • The Exodusters

    • Term for former slaves who migrated westward during this era.

    • Named after the Biblical Exodus, symbolizing movement towards a “Promised Land.”

    • Main motivation included escaping Jim Crow Laws and increasing racial violence in the South.

    • Over 20,000 individuals claimed land in regions such as Kansas and the Oklahoma Territory.

    • Resulted in the establishment of several prominent all-black communities in these areas.

THE END OF THE OPEN RANGE

  • Reasons for Cattle Drives

    • Ranchers’ migration of cattle north from Texas driven by rising demand for beef, corresponding with urban population growth.

    • Texas ranchers organized crews to transport longhorn cattle north to railroads in Kansas, ultimately shipping to Chicago for sale.

    • Typical cattle drives lasted about 3 months, covering approximately 10-15 miles per day.

    • Cowboys faced challenges such as long hours in the saddle, sleeping outdoors, bathing in rivers.

    • Perils included flooded rivers, lightning strikes, and stampedes.

    • Approximately one-third of cowboys were Hispanic or African American.

  • Conflicts with Farmers

    • As more farmers settled on the Great Plains, conflicts arose due to cowboys moving cattle across farming land.

    • Resulted in violent Range Wars as each faction defended their livelihoods.

    • Joseph Glidden invented barbed wire in 1874, changing the landscape of cattle ranching.

    • Barbed wire, along with further railroad expansion and refrigerated rail cars, contributed to the end of the open range by the late 1880s.