Chapter 14: Looking to the West (1860 – 1900)

I. The American West in the Late 1800s

Main Points• Frederick Jackson Turner• “Safety Valve”• 1890: Census Bureau: Frontier: “closed”

II. Native Americans & Westward Expansion

Introduction• Review: Indian Removal Act• Gold Rush… Transcontinental Railroad…

“Great Plains”• End of the Buffalo…

II. Native Americans (cont)

Indian Wars• Reservations… “wards”• Differences over land ownership• Series of Indian Wars…Wounded Knee considered

to be the end (Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee)• Helen Hunt Jackson

II. Native Americans (cont)

Opposition• NW: Chief Joseph & Nez Perce; Sioux

Wars* “Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My

heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight forever no more.” -- October 5, 1877

• SW: Navajo & Apache

Changing Govt Policies• Dawes Act (1887): Americanize• Homestead Act (1862)• 1924: Citizenship• 1934: Indian Reorganization Act• 1950s: Termination!• 1960s: Militancy among Native American

groups

II. Native Americans (cont)

III. The Economy of the West

Main Points:• Agricultural Revolution• Inventions: barbed wire; steel plow;

mechanical reapers: inc. production• Economy: resources, ranching, farming

III. Western Economy (cont)Pioneers of the West:• Miners: 49 Niners, Comstock Lode, “ghost

towns”• Ranchers: Open ranges, Long drives• Farmers: Homestead Act, barbed wire,

faced great difficulties

IV. The Farmer’s Revolt: Populism

A. Problems for the Farmers1. Deflation & Overproduction (Inventions)2. Big Businesses: Railroads and Banks3. Daily Difficulties

IV. Populism (cont)

B. The Farmers Organize1. The Grange (1867) & Oliver Kelley

* “Granger Laws”* Munn v. Illinois ( 1876)* Wabash v. Illinois ( 1886) &

ICC

IV. Populism (cont)

2. Populist PartyDefinition

* Roots: Granger Era; peak w/ E of 1896* Reforms: rejection of laissez-faire; a bigger govt to counter BB* But people must have a bigger say in the govt* “Grassroots” movement: ideas are adopted later by Progressives* Example of Third Party

IV. Populism (cont)

Populist Reforms1. Silver Standard/ “free silver”/ money supply2. Progressive/ graduated income tax… redistribute3. Low interest loans to farmers4. Govt ownership of RR, Telephones, telegraphs5. 8 hour work day6. Secret Ballot7. Direct Election of Senators8. Initiative 9. Recall10.Referendum

IV. Populism (cont)C. The Election of 1896

1. Big Issue: Gold v. Silver* Bryan (D) v. McKinley ®

“You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”

IV. Populism (cont)

2. Results* McKinley won (later assassinated by L. Czolgasz)* Economy improved; Populists disappeared* Ideas: adopted by other political parties (typical for third parties)

* Transition: from agrarian to industrial, farms to cities, closing of the west, a nation of

immigrants (pluralism)