The West
The Mining Boom
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BONANZA! That was the exclamation when a large vein of valuable ore was discovered. Thousands of optimistic Americans and even a few foreigners dreamed of finding a bonanza and retiring at a very young age.
Ten years after the 1849 CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, new deposits were gradually found throughout the West. Colorado yielded gold and silver at PIKES PEAK in 1859 and LEADVILLE IN 1873. NEVADA claimed COMSTOCK LODE, the largest of American silver strikes.
From COEUR D'ALENE in Idaho to TOMBSTONE in Arizona, BOOM TOWNS flowered across the American West. They produced not only gold and silver, but zinc, copper, and lead, all essential for the eastern Industrial Revolution. Soon the West was filled with ne'er-do-wells hoping to strike it rich.
Ten years after the 1849 CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, new deposits were gradually found throughout the West. Colorado yielded gold and silver at PIKES PEAK in 1859 and LEADVILLE IN 1873. NEVADA claimed COMSTOCK LODE, the largest of American silver strikes.
From COEUR D'ALENE in Idaho to TOMBSTONE in Arizona, BOOM TOWNS flowered across the American West. They produced not only gold and silver, but zinc, copper, and lead, all essential for the eastern Industrial Revolution. Soon the West was filled with ne'er-do-wells hoping to strike it rich.
Few were so lucky. The chances of an individual prospector finding a valuable lode were slim indeed. The gold-seeker often worked in a stream bed. A tin pan was filled with sediment and water. After shaking, the heavier gold nuggets would sink to the bottom. Rarely was anything found of substantial size. Although mining had a very low success rating turnout, it was a main aspect to making the West's legacy a stronger presence.
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Cattle and the Cowboy
The days of the cowboy - the long cattle drives from Texas to the cattle towns of Abilene and Dodge City - lasted about 25 years. Yet, cowboy culture has tremendous influence on television, movies, clothing, art literature, and poetry. What accounts for people's continuing interest in cowboys when they made such a small contribution to our history? Why would a brief period of activity in a highly specialized market continue to influence people, years later, far from the "purple sage"? These are all questions that contribute to the ultimate legacy of this whole time period.
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The actual purpose of the cowboy was to work the cattle in thereeless expanses of the West. The cowboys drove cows from ranches to railroads. The life of the cowboy consisted a person of great courageousness, a spiretted horseman, and a lifestyle vulnerable to lightning. cloudbursts and draught. The rugged lifestyle of a cowboy also consisted of encounters with stampedes, rattle snakes, and the infamous outlaws that ran the great plains. To combat the dangers that lay before the cowboys path, they witnessed nature at its finest, sleeping under the stars in the midst of their journey. But with every ups their comes down. The dry summer of 1886 followed by the terrible winter of 1886 - 1887 destroyed what remained of the original cowboy industry. Also the invention of induetry and the factor of competition led to the end of the long drive, and therefore, the cowboy. Although the time lasted for a short 25 years, the legacy they cowboys left is beyond imaginable. The cowboy, by driving the cows to the railheads in simple terms fed the east, providing the the eastern hemisphere of our nation with a vital trading good. The occupation of a cowboy was also a opportunity for African Americans. Many may not know, but most of the cowboys back during the time were African American and people of color. In today's world, the cowboy is glorified in popular culture throughout the thosands of novels and hundreds of motion pictures created with these vibrant figures of America.
The Railroad
The transcontinental railroad changed the industiral and production views of the nation into an industrial powerhouse that would lost for almost a century |
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Farmers
The Populist Party
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Even though the Populist Party was founded back in 1918, they are no longer in existence now. This does not mean that their existence was futile. In fact, their effect on American culture has been long lasting. This group of politicians helped to strengthen the foundation for what is now known as the Democratic Party. The Populist Party also helped draw attention to issues that were not being addressed, even though they were major problems at the time. One of those issues was how to elect senators. This lead to the eventual development and ratification of the 17th amendment. The Populisits also gave rise to such charecters as "Pitchfork" Ben, Tillman and Stom Orators. The Party also illustrated the impact of industrial expansion of farming and demonstrated how ordinary farmers could from their own unions to better their conditions.
Exodusters
Women in the West
The Native Americans
Reasons for Conflict
Euro-American
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Native Americans
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Destroying the Bison
Bison ("buffalo") were the main source of food & clothing for Native Americans on the Great Plains. The Buffalo provided the Indians with vitals tools and nutrients to survive.
US army, railroad companies & white settlers systematically set out to kill all bison in attempt to shut the Native American culture and way of life out. They undertook shooting the bison as a recreational activity, killing the life source and core for Native Americans on the Great Plains.
Bison ("buffalo") were the main source of food & clothing for Native Americans on the Great Plains. The Buffalo provided the Indians with vitals tools and nutrients to survive.
US army, railroad companies & white settlers systematically set out to kill all bison in attempt to shut the Native American culture and way of life out. They undertook shooting the bison as a recreational activity, killing the life source and core for Native Americans on the Great Plains.