Chapter 11
Lighting out for the Territories
1. How did the settling of the west contribute to American uniqueness and exceptionalism according to Mark Twain and historian, Frederick Jackson Turner? Pg. 393 - Many groups migrated west in search of land, gold, industry or simply to live in peace. They did it without expecting the government or anyone else to save or help them. It was “rugged individualism” and basic “survival of the fittest” that made a man successful in this untamed land. …”The West made men democratic, egalitarian, nationalistic, pragmatic and adaptive….”
2. Describe modes of communication in the untamed west. Include the stagecoach, steamboats, and trains. Pg. 395 Steamboats were vital common carriers – commercial transporters of mail, freight, and passengers. Butterfield Line – American Express, William Fargo – Wells Fargo line, Pony Express – telegraph came much later
3. Describe the importance of locomotives to American life. Pg. 396 –Became cheaper than water transportation, and obviously more versatile. Public funds granted for the building of railroads, but private funds turned out to be more efficient. Railroad station became the hub of American life. People would gather around the station to hear news, presidential election returns, baseball scores, and contributed to the rise of national parks.
4. What brought on the “Gold Rush”? How did it affect frontier life? Pg. 397-398 The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill, in Coloma, California.[1] News of the discovery brought some 300,000 people to California from the rest of the United States and abroad.[2] Of the 300,000, approximately half arrived by sea and half came overland.
The gold-seekers, called "Forty-niners" (as a reference to 1849), often faced substantial hardships on the trip. While most of the newly arrived were Americans, the Gold Rush attracted tens of thousands from Latin America, Europe, Australia, and China. At first, the prospectors retrieved the gold from streams and riverbeds using simple techniques, such as panning. More sophisticated methods of gold recovery developed which were later adopted around the world. At its peak, technological advances reached a point where significant financing was required, increasing the proportion of gold companies to individual miners. Gold worth tens of billions of today's dollars was recovered, which led to great wealth for a few. However, many returned home with little more than they had started with.
The effects of the Gold Rush were substantial. San Francisco grew from a small settlement to a boomtown, and roads, churches, schools and other towns were built throughout California. A state constitution was written and California became a state in 1850 as part of the Compromise of 1850.
** West’s natural resources: fur, fish, logging – quick depletion was said to be due to overharvesting and waste, but was mainly the result of over-regulation from the government, confiscating private land and claiming as public land.
5. What did James J. Hill, Frederick Weyerhaeuser, Gustavus Swift have in common? How would their stories have been different had they lived today? Pg. 397-399 All were strong entrepreneurs. Hill developed the Canadian-American Railroad lines, Weyerhauser in the paper industry, Swift in the meat packing industry. Both were environmentalists and conscientious land managers. Today, there is no way they could start their businesses with all the government regulation, PETA and other left-wing groups and lobbies to stop them in their tracks.
6. How was the west impacted by the cattle industry? Pg. 400-401 – With the development of railroads, the cattle industry boomed, and the price of beef came down. Cattle were herded by “cowboys” to the stockyards at railheads and shipped to Chicago slaughter houses. “Cow towns” popped up like Abilene, Kansas; Wichita, Dodge City where cowboys got paid, drunk and got in fights or worse.
7. Joseph F. Glidden and Jacob Haish patented what product? Why was it so ingenious? Pg. 402 – The “Homestead Act” – 1862-1890 – made land available of 160,000 acres. Land was arid and difficult to harvest. Severe weather destroyed crops and livestock. Livestock would wander or worse, fall victim to predatory animals. Glidden and Haish patented barbed wire. Wood was scarce on the plains and these wire fences kept their livestock in check and protected farmer’s crops.
8. How was the movement trans-Mississippi west like the Industrial Revolution? Pg. 403 Small producers declined and turned to manufacturing like in the Industrial Revolution. Necessity was indeed the mother of invention!
9. If life was so difficult and foreboding in taming the west with most people never realizing their dreams, why did so many people attempt it? Pg. 403 – Despite in intense difficulty of settling and taming the land, those who made it had a much better opportunities to thrive and become successful than they ever would have in Europe. Life expectancy improved dramatically.
10. What are some great truths about Indians? What are some great myths? Pg. 404 – They were mostly peaceful, conflicts over land which eventually led to wars that they always lost. Most were nomadic; following buffalo herds which they often wasted and were not the eco-environmentalists that they are often portrayed to be.
11. What made the Plains Indians different than other tribes? Pg. 405 Completely dependent on the buffalo herd. They followed them around and used almost all parts of the buffalo. Those who lived in “villages” were almost decimated by the disease that Europeans spread whereas, the nomadic Indians stayed more healthy. “Of thee I Sing” about Sitting Bull was a Sioux Medicine Man from SD. He tried to heal broken hearts and broken promises. He tried to teach all people that it is fine that we are different. He Said, “For peace, it is not necessary for eagles to be crows.” Though he was imprisoned, his spirit soared free on the plains of the Dakotas and his wisdom touched generations and continues to do so. This was such a senseless tragedy that happened only an hour from our home.
12. Discuss the failed U.S. Indian policy. How was it similar to most government agencies? Pg. 406 The government spent as much as $1 million and 25 cavalry members per Indian they killed. They tried to “civilize and Christianize” the Indian population which, of course, was met with great resistance.
13. How did the government attempt to curtail hostile Indian tribes? Pg. 407 – BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) was to put them all on reservations, and “manage” them through U.S. army intervention. As always, money pours in from the government and corruption takes hold. Made the Indians even more hostile at times.
14. Who was Crazy Horse? What made him an important part of history? Pg. 409 Treaties were made and broken with the Sioux. A road had been built through the heart of the Big Horn and Yellowstone. Wooden forts were built, and manned by small groups of cavalry and infantry.
15. What role did General George Custer play in the American West? Pg. 410 A decorated Civil War veteran, often employed the media to follow his gallantry in war. DVD CLIP
16. How did the government finally attempt to assimilate and civilize Indians into the white culture?
How successful were they? Pg. 411 Dawes Severalty Act (1887) gave Indians’ families 160 acre plots on which to live. Pres. Cleveland promoted this idea. He believed that the Indians needed “guardians” and that it was the government’s job to teach them English and fully assimilate them into white culture. The transition to modern capitalism and free market economy has been a terrible struggle for the Native Americans. Plus the government has given them so many handouts, it’s really crippled many of them.
17. How did the territory of Washington become a state? How long did it take? Why? Pg. 414 Took 4 decades because of political bickering, anti-Chinese rhetoric, advocacy of women’s suffrage, etc.
18. How did the “Edmunds Act” affect Utah statehood? Pg. 415 – Outlawed polygamy and denied voting rights to all participants, and any children born to polygamists declared illegitimate. After Brigham Young’s revelation reversing polygamy, Mormons adhered to the law abolishing polygamy and were then admitted to the union.
19. Describe Alaska’s struggle to become a state. Pg. 416 – Remained neither a territory nor a state for a long time. Gold rushes in the Klondike and Nome brought thousands of people, but the isolation and mere distance proved daunting. Finally the “Alcan” highway was finished and with the onset of WWII, Alaska became a state in 1948.
20. How did “capitalism’s creative destruction” lead to labor unions? Pg. 417 People became disillusioned with low pay, hazardous working environment, which lead to labor unions which also lead to violence, corruption, and socialism.
21. What potentially devastating effect did the case of Munn vs. Illinois have on government regulation and business? Pg. 417 It stated “that private property in which the public has an interest must submit to public controls.” People lost interest in pushing it, because everyone made money.
22. Describe the “Crime of ‘73.” Why does this sound familiar?? Pg. 419 It essentially wiped out the wealth of many Americans (short term, primarily western miners) while wiping out the United States’ wealth long term. (The United States at that point accepted both gold and silver as monetary equivalents). By not purchasing the silver at a slightly higher than market rate, the United States essentially went on the gold standard (although I don’t think it was until around 1900 that it was official). Anyway, because of increased pressure from western mining states the united states eventually had to purchase the silver at higher than initially demanded rate. In 1890 the “Sherman Silver Purchase Act” was enacted (repealed 3 years later). This required the government to purchase 2-4MM of silver per month at TWICE the going rate. Silver in the meantime was being devalued as discovery of the metal increased (it was around 40-1 or so, don’t remember exactly) after 1900. The increase in silver discovery ultimately reduced the price of silver (law of supply and demand). This also forced silver to be used in more industrial applications. The bottom line of all that is the government was forced to buy silver at an inflated price increasing their silver reserves (that were decreasing in value), with gold that was increasing in value.
23. What was the “Populist” party platform? What did it morph into?? Pg. 421 Progressivism! Lead by William Jennings Bryan
No comments:
Post a Comment