Crossing the Finish Line

Our last standard and benchmarks focused on the years after the Civil War that brought about a rapid move west by farmers, ranchers and miners. While the West promised new opportunities it also led to the destruction of the numerous Native American tribes.

The federal government supported the population of the West with the passage of the Homestead Act, the Morrill Land Grant Act, and the Dawes Act. Individuals as well as big business were able to thrive in the West. The railroads, which were given huge tracts of land by the federal government, provided transportation for the people to populate the West as well as return transit for their crops and cattle. Rail companies even advertised in Europe in an effort to bring more settlers to the West and place a greater demand on the rails which of course led to higher profits.

The first settlers of the West had to cope with Native American attacks as well as taming the land. The sod literally had to be busted and this led to mechanical innovations that eventually led to Bonanza farms. By the late 1870s, farmers were using steam powered equipment that made the harvesting season more efficient. Quality farming techniques were further supported with the establishment of Land Grant Colleges under the Morrill Act.

The open range that helped the rancher was greatly curtailed with the introduction of barbed wire. While the wire clearly delineated farming land from grazing land, ranchers had less land for open grazing. This limitation combined with difficult winters forced many ranchers into bankruptcy.

Mining also changed during this period as individual miners gave way to corporations. Big business could afford the specialized hydraulic equipment that was needed to go deep underground for the ore.

The victims of this widespread movement west were the numerous Native American tribes. Indians were defeated in battles and forced onto reservations. Even though most Indian tribes were nomadic, the federal government tried to force them onto reservations and to offer farming as an alternative to using the buffalo as a source of food and other necessities. This new life style did not suit many Native Americans and led to further death and destruction of their culture.

Final Exam

You have a study guide for the final and we will be working on the guide for the last two class periods. Keep in mind that the study guide will be collected the day of the exam and is worth up to 10 extra points on the final. In addition to identifying the event, term or person, make sure to include significance. Ask yourself why you need to know the event or term.

The final exam is made up of multiple choice questions, short answers based on a map, graph and chart. You will also have to interpret selected primary source documents. You will also have an essay question. Additional details will be announced in class.

Wishing you a safe and enjoyable summer

This year is almost over and I wanted to take the opportunity to wish all of you a safe and enjoyable summer. I have truly enjoyed working with you. I hope you will carry your critical thinking skills and your understanding of the importance of history with you as you move on to your Junior year. And last but not least, keep up with those current events…you want to know what is happening in the outside world!