Settling the West

Manifest Destiny

God-given right to expand west to the Pacific Ocean.

The Coming of the Railroads

The Iron Colt Becomes the Iron Horse

Railroad building was costly and risky. But—it promised economic growth and national unity. Land grants were made to the railroads by the

government. 155,504,994 acres and 49 million more contributed by the

Western states. Land grants were made in belts along the proposed route in

checkerboard fashion.

FEDERAL LAND GRANTS TO RAILROADS

The Transcontinental Railroad The Union Pacific Railroad built westward from Omaha,

Nebraska. Mostly Irish immigrants worked on this end of the railroad.

The Central Pacific Railroad built eastward from California. Mostly Chinese immigrants worked on this end of the

railroad.

Promontory Point, UT(May 10, 1869)

Revolution by Railways Benefits:

Unified nation Spurred economic growth

Steel industry Mining/agriculture Cattle industry

Growth of new cities Stimulated immigration Maker of millionaires Time zones

The Mining Industry

Prospecting

Growth of the mining industry

Brought the first wave of settlers to the mountain states of the West.

From 1860-1890, more than $340 million was mined by the “Kings of the Comstock.”

Boomtowns developed due to mine strikes. Ghost towns also developed once the miners left.

Mining Centers: 1900

Effects: Amassing precious metals helped finance the Civil War Facilitated the building of railroads Intensified the tension between whites and natives Led to equality for women

Mining (“Boom”) Towns--Now Ghost Towns

Calico, CA

Create a graph.

Population of Denver, Colorado 1870 4,759 1880 35,629 1890 106, 713 1900 133,859

The Long DriveCattle and Cowboys

Ranching and Cattle Drives

Texas Longhorn descended from Texas and Mexico Could easily survive the harsh climate of the Plains

Open range—provided a vast area of grassland for the cattle to feed free of charge

Mexican cowhands developed the tools and techniques for rounding up and driving cattle

Two developments made cattle ranching profitable in the west 1. The Civil War 2. the railroad

TheCattleTrails

Cowboys 25% of cowboys were African Americans “range wars” broke out between sheepherders and cattle

ranchers Barbed wire—allowed hundreds of square miles to be

fenced off cheaply and easily. Used to shut out competitors Kept animals closer to sources of food and water Ended the long drive

The Range Wars

SheepHerders

CattleRanchers

Barbed Wire

Joseph Glidden