American West Expansion: Conflicts & Consequences

Westward Expansion and Indigenous Conflict

• California's Quick Growth: The Gold Rush (1849) spurred rapid population growth in California.
• NFL Team Name: The San Francisco 49ers were named after the 1849 Gold Rush.
• Western Boom: Hunting bison for their hides also fueled the westward expansion.
• Bison Population Collapse: The slaughter of bison caused their population to plummet from over 10 million to a few hundred by the 1880s. Cattle replaced them on the grasslands.
• Mormon Migration: Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) migrated west to escape religious persecution. Brigham Young led the movement after the death of Joseph Smith.
• Largest Pull Factor: Land was the largest incentive for westward migration.
• Homestead Act (1862): Allowed male citizens to claim 160 acres of federal land in the West. Women were excluded.
• Farm Household Labor: Men usually worked the fields, while women managed the home and food supplies.
• Scandinavian Migration: Second or third sons in Scandinavia moved to Minnesota to establish farms, unable to inherit land back home.
• US vs. Native American Moving Patterns: Settlers aimed to build permanent structures and extract resources; Native Americans moved cyclically to hunt, raid, and trade.
• Dakota War: The earliest "Indian War" began during the Civil War in 1862.
• Common Theme of Indian Wars: American settlers encroaching on Native American lands, leading to conflicts.
• Sand Creek Massacre (1864): Colorado militia attacked a Cheyenne camp, slaughtering hundreds of men, women, and children.
• Indian Peace Commission (1868): Created by Congress to criticize past actions against Indigenous peoples.
• Board of Indian Commissioners (1869): Established to oversee Native affairs and reduce violence. Protestant churches were tasked with managing reservations.
• Missionary Re-Education: Christian missionaries aimed to change Indigenous women's roles, emphasizing domestic duties.
• American Stereotype of Native Americans: Many Americans viewed Indigenous peoples on reservations as lazy and inferior.
• Military Focus: The US military focused on the Southern Plains after the Civil War.
• Powerful Indigenous Groups: The Comanche and Kiowa held significant power and alliances in the Southern Plains.
• Medicine Creek Lodge (1867): Misunderstandings at the peace negotiations led to further conflict. Comanche desired large territory for hunting, while Americans sought reservations.
• Quanah Parker: A respected war leader among the Comanche.
• Red River War (1874): Comanche defeat resulted in relocation to southwestern Oklahoma reservations.
• Great Sioux Reservation: Established in the northern Plains, following the Sioux victory in Red Cloud's War.
• Black Hills Gold Discovery: Gold discovery in the Black Hills led to treaty violations by US citizens.
• US Response to Treaty Violations: The US pressured the Sioux to sign new treaties and sent troops.
• Battle of Little Bighorn (1876): General George Custer and his 7th Cavalry were defeated in a battle against the Lakota Sioux.
• Crazy Horse's Surrender: Crazy Horse led the surrender of the Oglala Sioux in 1877.
• Mormon Expansion and Native Displacement: Mormons displaced Native populations in the northern Great Basin.
• Native Groups in the Great Basin: Navajo, Jicarilla Apache, Hopi, Zuni, Utes, and Paiutes fought against American expansion.
• Navajo Removal: The Navajo were forced to Bosque Redondo Valley during the Long Walk (1863-1866).
• Treaty of Bosque Redondo (1868): A treaty attempting to resolve the issue of Navajo relocation, criticized for its harsh conditions.
• William Tecumseh Sherman: Criticized the mistreatment of the Navajo and promoted a return to their homeland.
• Nez Perce Flight: Nez Perce attempted to flee to Canada to avoid relocation (1876).
• Chief Joseph: Nez Perce leader known for his surrender speech.
• Western Economy Fuels: Ranching and railroads shaped the Western economy.
• Transcontinental Railroad Construction: Built by the Central Pacific (West) and Union Pacific (East).
• Railroad Connection: Joined in Utah in 1869.
• Pacific Railroad Act (1862): Provided subsidies and land grants to build the transcontinental railroad.
• US Railroad Miles (1850, 1900): 9,000 miles in 1850; 190,000 in 1900.
• Midwest Railroad Hub: Chicago.
• World Columbian Exposition (1893): Chicago's world's fair highlighted the city's progress and advancements.
• Chicago as a Gateway: Chicago processed cattle from Texas for eastern markets via railroads.
• Cattle Drives: Used trails like the Chisholm, Western, Goodnight-Loving, and Shawnee Trails to transport cattle to railroads.
• Cowboy Heritage: Included people of diverse backgrounds, not just white.
• Mexican Vaquero Influence: Cowboy terms like rodeo, bronco, and lasso derive from Mexican vaqueros.
• Famous Female Travelers: Molly Goodnight and Lizzie Williams traveled frequently with their cattle drives.
• End of Cattle Drives: Railroad lines made long cattle drives obsolete.
• Settler View on Native Land Use: Settlers believed Native peoples used land inefficiently.
• Legislation for Land Transfer: Americans supported legislation to transfer Indigenous lands to settlers and encourage American-style agriculture.
• Dawes Act (1887): Divided Native American reservations into individual homesteads.
• Dawes Act Claim Size: 160 acres, similar to the Homestead Act.
• Dawes Act Consequences: Damaged Native tribal sovereignty, disrupted their lifestyles.
• Ghost Dance: Religious practice among Native Americans as a statement against American imperialism.
• Wovoka and Lakota Sioux: Wovoka, a Northern Paiute prophet, influenced the Ghost Dance among the Lakota Sioux.
• South Dakota Formation: The formation of South Dakota in 1889 profoundly impacted the Lakota Sioux.
• Wounded Knee Massacre (1890): A cavalry unit clashed with a group of Lakota seeking refuge, resulting in numerous casualties.

Explore the impact of the Dawes Act, Ghost Dance, and events like the Wounded Knee Massacre on Native American sovereignty and traditional ways of life. Examine factors contributing to California's population growth and the consequences of bison hunting.