Us History

Transformation of the West Continued:

-The Fourth Economic Boom

        -The Transcontinental Railroad:

                -The railroad will populate our vast territory.

                -If the nation had a mode of transportation, Americans would be truly united.

-Cause the average American one thousand dollars! A one-way trip was one hundred and fifty dollars.

-Railroad Communities emerge, but they are more modern, also the telegraph. Where these railroads stopped, is was he economic centers of the community, where they can exchange the trade of goods.

-Build by the Union Pacific, and will construct in westward, and Central Pacific will construct it eastward.

                -Transportation of cattle, people, iron, copper, zinc, silver, and gold (Raw materials).

                -Collapse of railroad industry will start the depression or 1873.

The Frontier:

-Romanticized View

        -Mark Twains The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1867) and the New York Tribune

-Historian Frederick Jackson Turners “The Significance of the Frontier in American History” (1893)

-Turner claimed settlement of the west would cultivate individualism and spread democracy; while also reinvigorating American ideals of advancement.

-Economic Advancement

        -Nurtured the hope of improving ones position in American society.

-In 1890, the black community in Kansas would challenge the supreme court. But the supreme court said no because of the Jim crow laws.

-American Fever: where settlers decided to more to America that they spotted out.

-105 thousand decided to make the west there home.

-In reality, many Americans struggled to work the land, purchase machinery necessary to compete with industries, many settlers relocated to urban areas to seek employment as factory workers.

-Mexican and Chinese Settlements

        -Mexican Settlements

-The Spanish crown established a settlement, early as the 1700’s. In California, Spanish settlements emerged as early as the 1700’s

-Much of the land rights would be given to the Mexican citizens and would be given a noble title.

-By 1821, you really start to see the growth of the cotton kingdom, much of the west are already settled, and they are wealthy.

                -Mexican aristocrats land rights upheld.

                        -Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)

-Between the US and Mexico, Mexico negotiated that the proud right of the Mexican aristocrats would be upheld, and their rights would remain.

-Peones: cooperation of land, aristocrats would collaborate to make sure their land was not takin from them. 1848-1866.

        -Intimidation and Violence over the land.

-Political organizations of white settlers in territories was marked by the disappearance of Mexican ejidos property right.

-Sante Fe Ring: the most corrupt organization, but they are successful. By 1906 Mexican Americans lost about 63 percent of their land. It was the most fertile and desired land in California history.

-Conflict between white settlers and mexican ranchers (known as los pobres)

-They are successful, and by 1889 they retreat to the sierra Rocky Mountains, and give up caddle herding and take up sheep herding.

-By 1900, the once prosperous Mexican ranchers joined the rank of Mexican American working class who worked for seasonal wages.

        -Mexican men married white women to keep their land rights.

-Chinese Settlers:

        -Chinese immigrants were among the earliest groups to participate in the gold rush in 1848.

                -Asian or African descent had to pay tax of 20 dollars a month.

                -Find themselves working in the railroad industries, but also as labors.

        -Chinese immigrants performed labor-intensive jobs (e.g. lumber industry and railroad industry)

                -Some will become business owners, some knows as Hun-junes.

- “Community Pot” will save the community, provide many of the ones who are in poverty income.

-“Hun-Junes” are now called “China Towns”

        -Economic mobility of Chinese workers was followed by anti-Chinese sentiment.

                -White settlers were engaging in brutality, and they wanted to claim these jobs back.

Organizations to restrict immigration to the U.S.

1. National Labor Union (NLU) in 1866
2. Working Men’s party (1878)

-The Chinese must go campaign

3. American Protective Association (1887)

4. Immigration Restriction League (1894)

        -Screening tests

U.S.- Native relations

-U.S. Treaties with Natives

        -In 1834, congress formally designated the “Great Plains” as permanent Indian Country.

                -Established territory boundaries and trade

-U.S. Reneges on Treaties with the Natives

        -In 1842, the first wagon train headed west for Oregon from Missouri

        -In 1848, pony express riders delivered mail from Missouri to California

        -In 1861, telegraph lines connected San Fran with the East

        -In 1862, the federal government launched the transcontinental rail project.

Dispersal of Natives

-The strategy involved:

        1. Destruction of the buffalo that roamed the Great Plains.  

                -Buffalo provided a lot, keep them warm during severe conditions.

        2.The Relocation of natives to land set aside in Oklahoma and the Dakotas – reservations.

-Some native tribes will continue to move their land, but many tribes will reject the idea of leaving their land.

-Indian Piece Commission: recommends that the government move all natives and encourage the forceful removal if tribes will not agree.