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One of the most influential technologies of this time period was the development of the Transcontinental Railroad. Watch the video as we start our Unit.
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After Reconstruction many people were Pushed out West. People who lost most of what they owned in the Civil War has nowhere to go. Newly Freedmen who were once slaves where pushed out West because of racism. Highly populated cities where becoming crowded and people in these urban areas needed more room. Even Civil War soldiers who where charged with crimes and treason wanted a way to escape. The West was an area that had lots of land and people in the United States saw new freedom beyond the Mississippi River.
The travel to the West was difficult. Mountain ranges, rivers and deserts formed obstacles to westward migration. Pioneers traveled to St. Loius, Which is called the "Gateway to the West." They traveled by covered wagon across trails that were originally created by Native Americans. The Transcontinental Railroad provided a way for those who had the means to travel to the West. Migrants traveled to the West coast. The Great Plains were known as the "Great American Desert," and many people did not see that they could farm this land at first. With technology like the Steel Plow, the windmill, and the Mechanical reaper the Great Plains would one day be know as the "American Breadbasket". The plow tilled the hard earth, the windmill brought the scarce water to the surface, seeds like Russian wheat grew and the mechanical reapers harvested the wheat.
Travelers to the West had to go over the plains, through the rivers , and over the Rocky mountains. The Mississippi, Columbia, Colorado, and Snake are a few of the Rivers they had to forde. Trails through the mountains were impassable during the spring rains and winter snows. Travelers had to plan their traveling according to the seasons. The climate of the West consisted of Hot, dry summers that brought drought, dust storms and swarms of insects. Winter brought snow and the resulting spring floods. Storms also brought tornadoes. Unpredictable weather such as early snows or late-spring hailstorms could ruin crops.
The pull factors for enticing people out west were the fur trade, and mining. People had Gold Fever. They wanted the freedom of ranching and farming on their own land. The Homestead Act of 1861 allowed squatters to claim land and keep it. People were brought out west with the building of the railroad. They found jobs and the government gave land grants around the railroad to encourage growth.
After Reconstruction many people were Pushed out West. People who lost most of what they owned in the Civil War has nowhere to go. Newly Freedmen who were once slaves where pushed out West because of racism. Highly populated cities where becoming crowded and people in these urban areas needed more room. Even Civil War soldiers who where charged with crimes and treason wanted a way to escape. The West was an area that had lots of land and people in the United States saw new freedom beyond the Mississippi River.
The travel to the West was difficult. Mountain ranges, rivers and deserts formed obstacles to westward migration. Pioneers traveled to St. Loius, Which is called the "Gateway to the West." They traveled by covered wagon across trails that were originally created by Native Americans. The Transcontinental Railroad provided a way for those who had the means to travel to the West. Migrants traveled to the West coast. The Great Plains were known as the "Great American Desert," and many people did not see that they could farm this land at first. With technology like the Steel Plow, the windmill, and the Mechanical reaper the Great Plains would one day be know as the "American Breadbasket". The plow tilled the hard earth, the windmill brought the scarce water to the surface, seeds like Russian wheat grew and the mechanical reapers harvested the wheat.
Travelers to the West had to go over the plains, through the rivers , and over the Rocky mountains. The Mississippi, Columbia, Colorado, and Snake are a few of the Rivers they had to forde. Trails through the mountains were impassable during the spring rains and winter snows. Travelers had to plan their traveling according to the seasons. The climate of the West consisted of Hot, dry summers that brought drought, dust storms and swarms of insects. Winter brought snow and the resulting spring floods. Storms also brought tornadoes. Unpredictable weather such as early snows or late-spring hailstorms could ruin crops.
The pull factors for enticing people out west were the fur trade, and mining. People had Gold Fever. They wanted the freedom of ranching and farming on their own land. The Homestead Act of 1861 allowed squatters to claim land and keep it. People were brought out west with the building of the railroad. They found jobs and the government gave land grants around the railroad to encourage growth.
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Activity 1. Planning My Journey
1. Some choices for paths were better than others. Looking at the Maps describe which path you would take.
2. Why would this path be the best choice?
3. What time of the year would you plan your journey?
4. List ten supplies you would pack to go on your trip.
5. How far is your trip and how long do you think this trip will take you?
6. What obstacles will you have along the way?
7. When you get to your destination what supplies will you need to settle down?
1. Some choices for paths were better than others. Looking at the Maps describe which path you would take.
2. Why would this path be the best choice?
3. What time of the year would you plan your journey?
4. List ten supplies you would pack to go on your trip.
5. How far is your trip and how long do you think this trip will take you?
6. What obstacles will you have along the way?
7. When you get to your destination what supplies will you need to settle down?
Activity 2. Push of the Native Americans
At first the Native Americans welcomed and cooperated with explorers. After the Civil-War, as we began to build the railroad things changed.The railroad pushed the Native Americans and the buffalo. Sharpshooters were hired to get rid of the buffalo. Afterwards in the mid 1800's miners and farmers claimed Indian land as there own and pushed tribes onto reservations by soldiers. This lead to the Indian Wars. The soldiers massacred the Native Americans and their villages. One such was the Sand Creek Massacre and the Battle of Little Big Horn. This all began when gold was found in the Black Hills on a reservation. Some moved to Canada or ran away from the reservation, but they were surrounded by the army at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. The United States army massacred 300 men, women, and children as they attempted to give up their weapons.
1. Look at the map above.
2. What do you notice about the size of the reservation compared to the size of the Pioneers land?
3. Describe why there are so many Forts in these territories?
4. Why would a cowboy try to push out a Native American?
5. Why would a Native American try to push out a cowboy?
At first the Native Americans welcomed and cooperated with explorers. After the Civil-War, as we began to build the railroad things changed.The railroad pushed the Native Americans and the buffalo. Sharpshooters were hired to get rid of the buffalo. Afterwards in the mid 1800's miners and farmers claimed Indian land as there own and pushed tribes onto reservations by soldiers. This lead to the Indian Wars. The soldiers massacred the Native Americans and their villages. One such was the Sand Creek Massacre and the Battle of Little Big Horn. This all began when gold was found in the Black Hills on a reservation. Some moved to Canada or ran away from the reservation, but they were surrounded by the army at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. The United States army massacred 300 men, women, and children as they attempted to give up their weapons.
1. Look at the map above.
2. What do you notice about the size of the reservation compared to the size of the Pioneers land?
3. Describe why there are so many Forts in these territories?
4. Why would a cowboy try to push out a Native American?
5. Why would a Native American try to push out a cowboy?