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Fort Laramie Treaty Established
The original document
The US Government met with Indian tribe leaders. Settlers and workers in the West had asked for protection from the Native Americans. The compromise stated that the Natives in the Area would stay on reserves for the protection of the settlers, in exchange for money, livestock, and tools for farming. The Reserves the Indians would settle on would be theirs forever -
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The Comstock Lode
The Sierra Nevada Mountains held secret treasures. However in 1859, they were unearthed by two brothers. The land was claimed by miner Henry Comstock. The lode was filled with silver and gold. At the time, they did not recognise the silver. It was discovered and the Comstock lode became on of the richest silver mines. Many miners came down to the lode to seek fortune, but eventually the riches had been exhauseted. -
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The Cattle Kingdom
Cattle Kingdoms rose due to the high demand for meat after the Civil War. Cowboys or cowhands were men who drove cattle up from Texas to the Railroad. Many of these individual were Civil War vetrans. One in three were African or Mexican American. Being a cowhand was a dangerous job with low pay. The Cattle Drives came to an end with the invention of barbed wire. Farmers had gotten angry with heards of cattle trampling their crops. The wire fenced off most of the west from cattle drives -
The Homestead Act
The Homestead Act was a movement to get settlers out West. For a $12 processing fee, buyers were given 160 acres of land. They were to farm the land, and improve it for five years and then it was theirs. Many families took the offer and moved out. Others who moved were single women. This is why Western states were some of the first to let women vote. Freedmen also went when their rights decreased after the Civil War. -
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The Transcontinental Railroad is Being Constructed
The Transcontinental Railroad was built by two companies rushing to build more than the other and meet in the middle. The Union Pacific began construction in Omaha, Nebraska. The Central Pacific began in Sacremento, California. The two tracks met at Promatory Point, Utah. The workers were given 15 years to complete the railroad however they finished in only 6 years. The country was connected from sea to shining sea and many states in the west began to apply for statehood. -
Nevada Becomes a State
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The Horrible Chivington Massacre
Following the violation of the Fort Laramie Treaty, some Native Americans attacked white settlers who had invaded their land. Settlers decided to retaliate. A force of 1,200 soldiers led by Colonel John Chivington, attacked a tibe of Cherokee Indians despite the white flag they raised. Over 200 men women and children were murdered. It was a huge stain on the expansion West. Although none were two fond for the Native Americans, many in the East were appalled by the brutality that had occured. -
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Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant
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The Battle of Little Bighorn
After Gold was found in the Black Hills, Colonel George A. Custer and his 600 men were sent to protect miners from Native Americans. The Battle of Little Bighorn is also known as Custer's Last Stand. Custer split his troops and attacked an Indian encampment home to 2,000 warriors with only 225 men. Custer and all of his men were killed. The battle was over in less than an hour due to the low numbers of US soldiers. It was the only battle the Native Americans one. -
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Presidency of Benjamin Harrison
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Wahington Becomes a State
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The Formation of the Populist Party
Farmers began facing many troubles. The price of crops was going down and with it their profit. Additionally, the price of transport by train was going up. In 1867, the National Grange was formed to try to stop this. The Populist party was formed with several of the farmers requests in mind. In the election of 1896, they were represented by Democrat William Jennings Bryan. However they lost to William McKinley. The party ended when prosperity returned in the late 1890s.
