Chapter+16+-+The+Conquest+of+the+Far+West

H.W: 2 Column Notes pg. 433 (Chapter Opener)


 * First half of 19th century, Far West didn't attract many English-speaking Americans. "Great American Dessert"
 * By 1840s enough people had moved there to change that image. Including the Gold Rush to CA in 1848-1849.
 * No longer seen as the American Dessert but as the "frontier"; empty land awaiting settlement
 * Place of new beginnings awaiting wealth, adventure, opportunity, and individualism.
 * In reality the Far West was neither of these things. When arriving it was not an open dessert land.
 * Indians, Mexicans, French and British Canadians, Asians and other were already there inhabiting the region for generations.
 * To some success, they tried move some of the people already there, but never managed to make it theirs alone.
 * English-speaking Americans transformed the West by making it a part of the "growing capitalist economy of the East."
 * Relied heavily on the federal government, land grants military, protection, ect.


 * Thoughts:** It's interesting to put in perspective the timeline of the Far West conquest with whats going on in the East. 1848-1849 was the gold rush in CA, this was merely years before the Civil War. How did the Civil War affect this movement and vice-versa.

H.W: 2 Column Notes pg. 434-447

The Societies of the Far West


 * The Far West a.k.a the "Great West" was the region beyond the Mississippi river.
 * Millions of Anglo-Americans moved there after the Civil War.
 * It contained the most arid territory in the U.S and some of the wettest and lushest.
 * It had the flattest plains, the highest mountains, treeless prairies, desserts, and great forests.
 * Above all, the Far West had many peoples.

The Western Tribes


 * Largest and most important western population group was the Indian tribes. (Indian Territory -> Oklahoma)
 * 300k+ before Spanish settlers arrived. Now in the mid-19th century only 150k left because of disease and dislocation.
 * The Pueblos were largely farmers; they grew corn, built towns and cities; practiced forms of irrigation; participated in trade and commerce.
 * Intimate relationship with Spanish created an alliance against the Apaches, Navajos, & Comanches.
 * Elaborate Caste System in the Southwest. Top-Spanish (Mexicans), Below-Pueblo (still largely free), Apaches enslaved war prisoners and people who voluntarily left their tribes were at the bottom.
 * Known as //genizaros// - Indians without tribes - became part of Spanish society.
 * Plains Indians were diverse tribes with different languages. Some farmers, others hunters.
 * Buffalo was source of economic basis for the Plains Indians
 * Tribes could not unite to fight off the white
 * Biggest weakness was disease. In the end they were outmanned and outgunned.

Hispanic California and Texas


 * Spanish settlement in California began in 18th century. Christian Missionaries
 * Forced Indians (labot force) into "slavery"
 * Mission society declined in 1830s when Mexican government reduced power of the church.
 * No match for the countless Anglo Americans that went to California before and after the Civil War.
 * Mexicans/Hispanics began to decline in California and Texas economically.
 * Anglo-American migration was less bad for Hispanics than the Indian Tribes.
 * Hispanics who for a long time called the west their homes, became a working class serving Capitalist America.

The Chinese Migration + Anti-Chinese Sentiments


 * By 1880 over 200k Chinese had settled in the U.S, most in CA. (1/10 o f pop.)
 * At first, Americans welcomed Chinese, calling them "hard working people" and a worthy class of citizens.
 * Attitudes quickly turned hostile, viewed them as rivals even threats because of their success.
 * Many worked in gold mines, "foreign miners tax" was enacted to exclude Chinese and Mexican miners.
 * Mining opp. decreased, so they began working in railroads.
 * 12k Chinese worked on transcontinental railroad. Preferred over whites because of hard work & low pay.
 * 1869 Transcontinental railroad finished. 1900s Chinese migrated to urban areas - establishment of "Chinatowns".
 * Chinese organizations known as "tongs" were secret societies, violent criminal organizations, opium trade & prostitution.
 * Anti-Coolie clubs hated Chinese. Tried to ban Chinese employment and beat them in the streets.
 * By accepting lower wages, they undid the work of labor Unions.
 * In 1882 Congress passed Chinese Exclusion Act - banned Chinese immigration to the U.S for 10 years * stopped the Chinese already in America to become citizens.
 * Congress renewed law for another 10 years in 1892 and made it permanent in 1902.
 * Chinese resisted, but had no significant effect.


 * Homestead Act (1862): Government assistance to farmers which encouraged settlement. Buy land for cheap, help farmers.

H.W: 2 Column Notes pg. 447-461

Romance of the West


 * The west was highly regarded as a beautiful open landscape full of mountains and rivers.
 * Paintings of the West became famous and attracted several people to witness the beauties of the West.
 * The myth of the Cowboys grew rapidly and was highly regarded as the "American Hero".
 * Americans admired cowboys for their free-spirit associated with nature, freedom from traditional ties and even strength and violence.
 * In reality they were lonely, experienced physical discomforts, and had little opportunities for advancement.
 * The west was highly romanticized with the idea of the "final frontier"