U.S. History II - Settling the West - Quick Guides | History

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Study GuideU.S. History II–Settling the West1.The Closing of the FrontierBy the end of the nineteenth century, the American West wasno longer a sparsely settled frontier.Railroads crisscrossed the region, connecting it to the rest of the nation. Major lines such as theGreat Northernnear the Canadian border and theSouthern Pacific, which linked New Orleans toLos Angeles, helped bring settlers, goods, and industry westward.As the population increased, many western territories became states:•Nevada (1864)•Colorado (1876)•North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington (1889)•Idaho and Wyoming (1890)Boomtowns created by cattle ranching, mining, and trade—such asAbilene, Denver, and SanFrancisco—grew into major cities, further signaling the end of the frontier era.1.1The Oklahoma Land RushMuch of present-day Oklahoma had originally been set aside asIndian Territory, where NativeAmerican tribes from the Southeast were forcibly relocated during Andrew Jackson’s presidency. Formany years, the land was viewed as undesirable, but by the 1880s it became valuable farmland.Under pressure from settlers, Congress openedtwo million acresof Indian Territory to non-Nativesettlement. Atnoon on April 22, 1889, more than50,000 settlers, known asBoomers, rushed intothe area to claim land. Some people, calledSooners, illegally crossed the boundary early andclaimed the best land.Within hours, nearly all available land was taken. In1893, anothersix million acres, known as theCherokee Strip, was opened to settlement.1.2Frederick Jackson Turner and the Frontier ThesisIn 1890, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that the frontier was officially closed. There was nolonger a clear boundary where population density dropped below two people per square mile.

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Study GuideThis announcement inspired historianFrederick Jackson Turner, who in1893presented his famouspaper,“The Significance of the Frontier in American History.”Turner argued that:•The frontier shaped American democracy and culture.•Life on the frontier encouragedindividualism, independence, innovation, and self-reliance.•The frontier experience made the United States different from Europe.Turner’s ideas had a lasting influence on American historical thinking, especially the importance ofgeography in shaping national identity.1.3Preservation and the New WestAlthough western settlement continued after 1890, Americans began to see the West not just as landto be used, but as land worthpreserving.Key developments included:•Yellowstone National Park(1872), the first national park.•Yosemite National Park(1890), the first park created specifically to protect wilderness.•TheForest Reserve Act of 1891, which allowed presidents to set aside land as nationalforests.•PresidentBenjamin Harrisonquickly protected13 million acresof forestland.NaturalistJohn Muir, a leading advocate for conservation, helped establish Yosemite and foundedtheSierra Clubin1892to protect the western wilderness.1.4Looking Ahead to the Twentieth CenturyEven as conservation efforts expanded, Americans also focused ondeveloping western resources.In the twentieth century, large-scale projects such as:•Dams•Irrigation systems•Aqueducts•Electric power lineswould dramatically reshape the region, bringing water and electricity to cities hundreds of miles awayand transforming the West beyond anything imagined in 1890.

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Study Guide2.Resistance of the Indians in the West2.1 Westward Migration After the Civil War•Millions moved west (1860s–1890s)from the East, Midwest, Europe, and Asia.•Motivations:oCheap land (Homestead Act)oGold and mineral wealthoRailroads and new economic opportunities•Travel methods: railroads, wagon trains, sea routes.•Results: new farms, towns, and industries—but many settlersfailed economically.2.2 Cultural Conflict Between Settlers and Native AmericansMajor misunderstandings included:•Religion:Native spiritual beliefs (polytheistic, nature-based) were disrespected.•Social structure:Extended kinship systems confused outsiders.•Land ownership:oIndians viewed land ascommunal hunting territory.oWhites saw land asprivate property to be surveyed and soldin 160-acre plots.These differences led settlers to view Native Americans as obstacles to progress.2.3 U.S. Indian Policy and the Indian Wars•Federal policy (1860s):oConfine tribes toreservationsoEncourage farming and abandonment of nomadic lifestyles

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Study GuideTribes that resisted:•Great Plains:Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho•Southwest:Apache, Comanche, Navajo•Northwest:Nez PercéMajor Conflicts:•Sand Creek Massacre (1864):oOver 300 Cheyenne and Arapaho killed despite peace terms.•Battle of Little Bighorn (1876):oSioux and Cheyenne defeated Custer’s force.•Apache resistance:oEnded with capture ofGeronimo (1886).2.4Destruction of the Bison•Bison were central to Plains Indian survival.•Millions killed by:oRailroad huntersoCommercial hide hunterso“Sportsmen” shooting from trains•By the 1880s, bison were nearly extinct.•Loss of bison forced tribes onto reservations.2.5 Dawes Severalty Act (1887)•Ended recognition of tribes as sovereign nations.•Broke up reservations intoindividual land allotments:o160 acres for heads of householdso80 acres for single adults•Land held in trust for 25 years → citizenship granted after.Surplus land sold to whites.

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