Chapter 5 Section 3Chapter 5 Section 3

Life in the WestLife in the West

Many western families lived on Many western families lived on HomesteadsHomesteads: A piece of land and the : A piece of land and the house on ithouse on it

Job opportunities for women in the Job opportunities for women in the WestWest– Some traditional jobs (teachers, sewers, Some traditional jobs (teachers, sewers,

cooks)cooks)– Some non-traditional (sheriffs, gamblers, Some non-traditional (sheriffs, gamblers,

outlaws)outlaws)

Western states and womenWestern states and women

Recognized women’s Recognized women’s contributionscontributions

More legal rights More legal rights (property, voting (property, voting earlier)earlier)

Wyoming Territory: Wyoming Territory: first for women’s first for women’s voting rights – other voting rights – other western states followwestern states follow

A man’s worst nightmare?A man’s worst nightmare?

Major “boomtowns” of the Major “boomtowns” of the WestWest

San Francisco, CA (gold rush, 1849)San Francisco, CA (gold rush, 1849) Denver, CO (4,000 to 107,000 in 20 Denver, CO (4,000 to 107,000 in 20

years)years) Omaha, NE (cattle Omaha, NE (cattle meat center) meat center)

MexicanosMexicanos Spanish speaking southwesternersSpanish speaking southwesterners Slowly lost influence, land, power as Slowly lost influence, land, power as

Americans moved into SW United StatesAmericans moved into SW United States

Buffalo SoldiersBuffalo Soldiers African American US soldiers, as African American US soldiers, as

nicknamed by Nativesnicknamed by Natives

The “Wild” West??The “Wild” West?? Daily shootouts, saloons, Cowboys and Indians?Daily shootouts, saloons, Cowboys and Indians? ““Legend” of West is turned to mythLegend” of West is turned to myth

– Dime novelsDime novels– William “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s “Wild West Show”William “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s “Wild West Show”

Real life legendsReal life legends– Billy the Kid, outlaw/criminalBilly the Kid, outlaw/criminal– Wyatt Earp, peace officer, gamblerWyatt Earp, peace officer, gambler– Calamity Jane, scout and performerCalamity Jane, scout and performer