Lecture Notes: The Myth and Reality of the American West
Myth vs. Reality
Myth: The American West is seen as a land of adventure, hope, and freedom, distinct from the rest of America.
Reality: Western history is complex and intertwined with the broader American history, especially during the Gilded Age.
The Gilded Age and the West
The West's development was integral to the Gilded Age.
Gold Fields of California: Sparked speculative mania in mining.
Railroads and Industrialization: Enabled cattle ranching; European capitalists invested in ranches.
Railroad Expansion: Central to settlement and agricultural development under the Homestead Act.
Challenges for Farmers
Farmers faced immense challenges on the Great Plains: distance, lack of rainfall, grasshopper plagues.
Industrialization transformed agriculture, with farmers competing globally.
Impact on Native Americans
As settlers moved west, Native Americans faced displacement and cultural disruption.
Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868): Designated Sioux reservation land; broken due to railroad expansion and gold discovery.
Battle of Little Bighorn: Last major Native victory, but followed by relentless U.S. military pursuit.
The Ghost Dance Movement
Wovoka's Vision: Promised peace and restoration through the Ghost Dance.
Government feared the movement, leading to increased military presence and tension.
Wounded Knee Massacre (1890): Marked a tragic end to military resistance.
Assimilation Policies
Post-conquest, U.S. policy shifted to assimilation.
Boarding Schools: Aimed to "kill the Indian, save the man."
Dawes Act (1887): Divided reservations into individual plots, leading to loss of communal land and resources.
Mexican-Americans in the Southwest
Former Mexican territories experienced land loss and social restructuring.
Land Grants: Often not recognized by U.S. authorities.
Economic Shift: Transitioned from landowners to wage laborers due to legal and economic pressures.
Cultural Adaptation
Mexican-Americans formed societies to support each other and maintain cultural ties.
Adapted to new norms while developing a unique Mexican-American identity.
Influence of Western Myth
Western myth arose in contrast to urbanization and industrialization.
Imagination: Sought escape from industrial life; myths provided a narrative of self-defense rather than conquest.
Conclusion
The myth of the West served to obscure the reality of conquest and imperial expansion by portraying Americans as defending against aggression rather than being conquerors.