settlement and conflict 1861 - 1877

• what attitudes changed during the 1860s?

  people began to see the possibilities of settling in the Great Plains - no longer saw it as the 'great American desert'
• when and what was the Homestead Act?

  1862 - offered settlers 160 acres of free land in the Plains if they farmed it for 5 years (act was open to everyone from women to immigrants). The condition of 5 years was meant to turn speculators away (people who divided land and sold it for cheaper) but failed to do so - it was key though as gave ordinary people the opportunity to own land.
• when and what was the Pacific Railroad Act?

  1862 - act approved the construction of the first Transcontinental Railroad from east to west. Believed it would make migration to unsettled land easier and create national unity between east and west.
• what was the impact of Transcontinental Railroads?

  -united east and west

  -encouraged settlement to the west

  -economic development was easier as west and east connected

  -aid, building materials and machinery could be transported easily
• how were funds raised for Transcontinental Railroad?

  government gave land to railways which they sold cheaply to fund the construction - promotional posters exaggerated how good life was on the Plains
• what was life like on the Plains?

  pros:

  -great land opportunity -> many migrated to escape their old lives e.g. ex-slaves migrated to Plains for a fresh start

  cons:

  -homesteading (farming) was difficult -> the soil was too hard, lack of water and poor conditions meant crops failed. there was no trees/wood for materials or fuel
• what helped improve homesteading life on the Plains?

  development of new technology and techniques
• give examples of how homesteading life improved:

  -John Deere steel ploughs could break through tough soil

  -barbed wire = cheap fencing to protect crops

  -farmers learned techniques like 'dry farming' which allowed them to grow crops despite water shortages
• what and when was the Timber Culture Act?

  1873 - gave settlers who lived in less fertile areas more land - people began settling in the High Plains which were very dry
• how did people adapt to conditions of the Plains?

  -no wood = homes made from sod

  -women were responsible for all aspects of life -> they cooked, looked after the sick, set up church groups to remove sense of isolation

  -as settlement increased, communities began to form - shops/schools too
• what was the Beef Bonanza and where did it take place?

  Texas - the famous breed Texas Longhorn grew rapidly in population during civil war -> the beef trade became very popular (large demand) so the trade became very profitable
• as the beef trade grew what did ranchers do?

  began herding their cattle along cattle trails/railroads which transported them to lucrative markets (those which demanded them heavily)
• what was the impact of cattle trails?

  Joseph McCoy began cattle towns which were set up as the trade grew in demand - towns devoted to buying, selling and transporting cattle -> Abilene.
• what caused tension to grow between Plains Indians and settlers?

  -railroads: built railways through Indian lands which divided buffalo herds which they hunted to feed themselves and make money

  -ranchers: built their cattle trails through Indian land

  -gold rush: miners searched for gold on Indian land

  These all violated treaties created by the government to ensure peace so it is no surprise the Indians began to fight back - they were in the right.
• how were Indians impacted by increased settlement to the Plains?

  -moved to smaller reservations as migration increased

  -many were forced to give up their nomadic lifestyles and farm the land

  -reservations were unsuitable for farming - many faced starvations

  Indian Wars began in the 1860s as response to this - the government gave them the Plains originally yet now were taking more of their land.
• when and what was Little Crow's War?

  1862 - Little Crow = chief of the Dakota. Faced near starvation following civil war. Dakota men killed 5 settlers after an unsuccessful hunt (desperation following near starvation) and in fear of retaliation began an uprising. Many settlers were killed and when the Dakota were defeated, they were banned from their land.
• when and what was the Sand Creek Massacre?

  1864 - Cheyenne were facing starvation due to infertile land and lack of buffalo. They raided settlers wagons for food and in response when all the men were out hunting the Cheyenne were attacked in their camp, women and children died. Led to outbreak of war in retaliation by other Natives
• what and when was the Red Cloud's War?

  1866-1868: Bozemen Trail was created to link gold fields for miners however it passed through Sioux hunting grounds guaranteed to them by the Fort Laramie Treaty. The Sioux attacked travellers on the trail so the army built forts to protect settlers without Natives agreement. Sioux began to attack the army until they surrendered.
• How was tension between Sioux and the army removed following Red Cloud's War?

  Sioux signed the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, giving them a large reservation in the Black Hills of Dakota in exchange for peace and no future attack - not all agreed.
• when and what was the Great Sioux War?

  1876-1877: Following discovery of gold in the Black Hills of Dakota in 1874, Us government attempted to buy the land from the Sioux who refused as it was sacred and given to them in Fort Laramie Treaty. Miners began to invade the land so the Sioux began gathering men ready to fight back. US army sent soldiers against them but Sioux won. Days later Battle of Little Bighorn began in which Col. Custer decided to attack without army support - all his men were killed by Indians - caused greater urge to remove Indians by the army