-
Fort Laramie Treaty
Fort Laramie TreatyIndians reached an agreement with the Federal Government. The Indians would stay within a designated area in exchange for food, supplies, and animals. This treaty was later broken by the US when gold was discovered on the Indian land in 1858. The government forced the Indians to give up even more land. This led to violent attacks against the settlers. -
Period: to
The Comstock Lode
Comstock LodeThree mining partners found a rich gold vein, known as the Comstock Lode, since Henry Comstock owned the land. They complained about heavy blue sand that they found with the gold, until they discovered that it was silver. Comstock owned one of the richest silver mines in the world. This caused many miners to move west in search of gold or silver. -
Period: to
Railroad Construction
The construction of the Transcontinental Railroad was carried out mostly by immigrents from Ireland and China. Chinese immigrents worked on the Central Transcontinental Railroad, and were the most dependable workers, despite being the wost paid. The railroad enabled goods to be shipped from the East to the West more quickly and efficiently. It also helped farmers settle in the West. However, railroad owners cheated many customers by only providing rebates to a select few, angering farmers. -
Nevada Becomes a State
-
Period: to
Cattle Kingdom
Cattle Kingdom
The Cattle Kingdom began with the increased demand for meat. Texas Longhorns, chosen for their durability, were driven North to the railroad by Cowboys. Many farmers were angry about the cattle dystroying thier land. With the invention of barbed wire fences, farmers blocked off their farms, closing the route North and ending the Cattle Kingdom. -
Period: to
President Cleveland
President Cleveland
Grover Cleveland served two terms, seperated by 4 years. The first Democrat to be elected after the Civil War, Cleveland was set firmly against giving financial support to any group. He vetoed any bill that would provide support to non-Government groups. Later in his Presidency, he passed the Interstate Commerce Act, the first attempted Federal regulation of the railroads. -
Dawes Act
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act, named after Senetor Henry Dawes was an attempt to help Native Americans. In the Dawes Act, Native Americans are individually given pieces of land for free. The Government hoped that this would make Native Americans adopt a style of living much like that of whites. Instead, many Indians sold their land, often for very low prices. So, the Dawes act was not a success. -
Oklahoma Land Rush
Oklahoma Land RushThe Oklahoma Land Rush was held by the Government to promote Western expansion. Thousands of men lined up on the border of Oklahoma to claim a free piece of land. However, many "Sooners" had snuck into Oklahoma, and claimed land as soon as the race began. -
Washington becomes a State
-
The Ghost Dance
Ghost DanceA prophet named Wovoka appeared to the Paiutes, an Indian tribe of the Southern plains. He claimed that if they did the Ghost Dance, a dance used to pray for a new world which was free from white men, the Great Spirit would make a new world for them. White settlers thought that this dance was a war dance. They convinced the Government to outlaw the Ghost Dance. This led to outbreaks of violence between Indians and white Americans. -
Wounded Knee
Wounded Knee MassacreAfter the death of Sitting Bull, many Lakota Indians fled into reservations. As they prepared to surrender, a gun went off, leading to a volley of firing. When it ended, 300 Indians and 25 American soldiers had been killed. This marked the end of the Ghost Dance religion, and the end of strong Indian resistance against the United States. -
Period: to
President William McKinley
President McKinley was born Jan 29, 1843. He was a Republican candidate who ran against William Jennings Bryan, the Populist party candidate. Despite Bryan having the support of both Republicans and Democrats, McKinley won the vote due to many buisness' fear of the inflation promised by Bryan. He was shot twice in 1901 by an anarchist while at the Buffalo Pan-American Exposition, and soon died.
