Heimler's History: Unit 6 Review - Westward Expansion (1865-1898)

Overview

• Focus: Causes and effects of the settlement of the West (1877-1898)
• Timeframe: 1865 to 1898

Westward Expansion and Agriculture

• Mechanization of Agriculture

  • Introduction of machines like the mechanical reaper and combine harvester
  • Effects:
    • Increased crop production (corn and wheat production doubled from 1870 to 1900)
    • Decline of small farmers unable to compete with large industrial farmers
    • Decrease in crop prices due to surplus
    • Economic struggles for all farmers due to high prices of manufactured goods and high railroad transport costs

• Railroad Issues

  • Farmers relied on railroads for shipping crops
  • Railroad owners charged high prices for transport
  • Resulted in farmer economic hardships

Farmer Responses

• National Grange Movement (1868)
  • Social and educational organization for farmers
  • Became political, leading to the Granger Laws
  • Granger Laws:
    • Regulation of railroad rates
    • Commerce Act of 1886 established reasonable railroad rates and the Interstate Commerce Commission

Government Policies Facilitating Westward Migration

• Pacific Railroad Acts

  • Government land grants to railroad companies
  • Completion of transcontinental railroad in 1869
  • Facilitated easier migration westward

• Homestead Act (1862)

  • Granted 160 acres of free land to settlers
  • Challenges:
    • Farms were often bought by larger entities
    • Insufficient land for sustainable farming

Discovery of Precious Metals

• Gold and Silver Rushes
  • Continued gold rush migration (e.g., California Gold Rush) from 1848 onward
  • Example: Pike's Peak gold discovery in 1869 led to mass migration and boomtowns like Denver City and Boulder City
  • Created ethnically diverse communities in boomtowns

Conclusion

• Summary of key points related to westward expansion
• Encouragement to subscribe for more educational content
• Focus on aiding students in achieving success in AP U.S. History exams