Year 11 American West

The American West Revision Guide
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REVISION GUIDE PAGE NUMBERS
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INDIAN WAY OF LIFE
Who were the Plains Indians?6
How were the Plains Indians organized?6
What were the Great Plains like?6
How did the Plains Indians survive?7
Why was the buffalo and horse so important to their survival?7
What was their belief about land and nature?8
What was their attitude to land, property and war?8
What was the US Government’s policy towards the Plains Indians between 1830-51?9
CHAPTER 2: MIGRATION AND EARLY SETTLEMENT

Reasons for the white migration to the West (push and pull factors)10
What were the problems with migration to the West?11
The failure of the Donner Party to migrate West in 184611
The success of the Mormon migration in 184712-13
Problems with setting up farming in the West14-15
CHAPTER 3: EARLY CONFLICT AND TENSION BETWEEN THE SETTLERS AND

PLAINS INDIANS
Why was there tension between the early settlers and Plains Indians16
The Fort Laramie Treaty (1851)17
The importance and consequences of the Fort Laramie Treaty (1851)18
The consequences of migration and the Gold Rush to law and order.18-19
How did the government tackle lawlessness and what were the consequences?19-20
CHAPTER 4: HOW THE SETTLEMENT OF THE WEST DEVELOPEDND

What were the consequences of the American Civil War on migration in 1865?21
The Homestead Act (1862): Its consequences and importance.22
The Pacific Railroad Act (1862): Its consequences and importance23
The impact of the railroads on the Plains Indians24
The impact of new inventions on farming the Great Plains.24
The impact of The Timber Culture Act (1873)24
The consequences of the railroads on law and order.24
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The Civil War’s impact on law and order CASE STUDY: The Reno Gang26
CHAPTER 5: RANCHING AND THE CATTLE INDUSTRY

Cattle ranching before and after the American Civil War27
The importance of Joseph McCoy and Abilene (1867)27
The importance of the Goodnight-Loving Trail (1866) 28
The importance of John Illif and cattle ranching on the Plains29
The consequences of the changes from cattle drives to cattle ranches on the Plains 31
The rivalry between ranchers and homesteaders 32
CHAPTER 6: CHANGES IN THE WAY OF LIFE FOR THE PLAINS INDIANS
The consequences of the railroads, cattle ranching and gold on the Plains Indians33
US Government Policy of putting Plains Indians onto Reservations/President Grant’s Peace Policy 34
The conflicts between white settlers and the Plains Indians (Little Crow, Red Cloud, Black Kettle)35-37
CHAPTER 7: CHANGES IN FARMING, THE CATTLE INDUSTRY AND SETTLEMENT

The importance and impact of new inventions to help farming38-40
What were the negative consequences of increased cattle ranching on the Plains? 41
The impact of small ranches and open range? 41-42
The ‘Exoduster’ migration (Black American migration to the West)43-44

The ‘Oklahoma Land Rush’44
CHAPTER 8: FURTHER CONFLICT AND TENSION

Why was there increased tension?45
The importance of Billy the Kid (1878-81) and Wyatt Earp at The OK Corral (1881)? 46
The importance of the Johnson County War (1892)47

The killing of Ella Watson and John Avril 47
The importance and consequences of the Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)48-49
The importance and consequences of the Wounded Knee Massacre (1890)49
CHAPTER 9: PLAINS INDIANS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THEIR WAY OF LIFE

The impact of the extermination of the buffalo on Plains Indians lives50
How the traditional way of life ended for Plains Indians50-52
The final importance of the Dawes Act to end Plains Indian culture52
*Pages 3-5 include revision trackers and how to answer the exam questions*
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Confident Need to Not

look over confident
Indian Way of life
Who were the Plains Indians?
How were the Plains Indians organised?
What were the Great Plains like?
How did the Plains Indians survive?
Why was the buffalo and horse so important to their survival?
What was their belief about land and nature?
What was their attitude to land property and war?
What was the US government’s policy towards the Plains Indians

between 1830-51?
Migration & Early
Settlement
Reasons for the white migration to the west (push and pull
factors)
What were the problems with migration to the West?
The failure of the Donner Party to migrate West in 1846
The success of the Mormon migration in 1847
Problems with setting up farming in the West
Early Conflict &

Tensions between
the Settlers and
Plains Indians
Why was there tension between the early settlers and Plains
Indians?
The Fort Laramie treaty 1851
The importance and consequences of the Fort Laramie Treaty

1851
The consequences of migration and the Gold rush to law and
order
How did the government tackle lawlessness and what were the
consequences?
How the settlement
of the West
Developed
What were the consequences of the American Civil War on
migration in 1865?
The Homestead Act 1862: Its consequences and importance
The Pacific Railroad Act 1862: Its consequences and importance
The impact of the railroads on the Plains Indians
The impact of new inventions on farming the Great Plains

The impact of the Timber Culture Act 1873
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The consequences of the railroads on law and order
The Civil War’s impact on law and order CASE STUDY: The Reno
Gang
Ranching and the
Cattle Industry
Cattle ranching before and after the American Civil War
The importance of Joseph McCoy and Abilene 1867
The importance of the John Illif and cattle ranching on the Plains
The consequences of the changes from cattle drives to cattle

ranches on the Plains
The rivalry between ranchers and homesteaders
Changes in the Way

of Life for the Plains
Indians
The consequences of the railroads, cattle ranching and gold on
to the Plains Indians
US government policy of putting Plains Indians onto
Reservations/President Grant’s Peace Policy
The conflicts between white settlers and the Plains Indians (Little
Crow, Red Cloud, Black Kettle)
Changes in Farming,
the Cattle Industry
and Settlement
The importance and impact of new inventions to help farming
What were the negative consequences of increased cattle
ranching on the Plains
The impact of small ranches and open range
The ‘Exoduster’ migration (Black American migration to the

West)
The ‘Oklahoma Land Rush’
Further Conflict and

Tension
Why was there increased tension?
The importance of Billy the Kid (1878-81) and Wyatt Earp at the
OK Corral (1881)
The importance of the Johnson County War (1892)
The killing of Ella Watson and John Avril
The importance and consequences of the Battle of Little Bighorn

(1876)
The importance and consequences of Wounded Knee Massacre
Plains Indians and

the Destruction of
their way of Life
The impact of the extermination of the buffalo on Plains Indians
lives
How the traditional way of life ended for Plains Indians
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The final importance of the Dawes Act to end Plains Indian

culture
How to answer the questions:
Narrative Question Consequence Question Importance Question

Guidance
ChronoLink! Guidance Guidance
• Sort your events Identify & Explain Identify & Explain
paragraphs into • Cleary identify two • Choose two reasons
chronological consequences it was important
order • Explain each using • Explain each using
• Link each examples and detail examples and detail
together! Tick off each box as you go Tick off each box as you go
Tick off each box as you through through
go through
Paragraph One Introduction
Paragraph One
• Introduce the first • Briefly introduce
event • Identify your first the event/person in
• Explain using consequence a
specific detail ‘One consequence sentence or two
(dates/facts) of…..was...’
• Use analytical • Give two pieces of Paragraph One
phrases ‘this led specific evidence to • Explain your first
to’ explain your point. reason it was
• Make a link to the • Use analytical important
next event language such as ‘One reason…..was
‘this led to’ important is.....’
Paragraph Two
• Give two pieces of
• Introduce the
specific evidence
second event
to explain your
• Explain using Paragraph Two
point.
specific detail • Identify your
(dates/facts) second Paragraph Two
• Use analytical consequence • Explain your second
phrases ‘as a ‘A further reason it was
result’ consequence of..... important
• Make a link to the ...was... ‘A second reason
next event • Give two pieces of ...was important
Paragraph Three specific evidence to is...’
explain your point. • Give two pieces of
• Introduce the
• Use analytical specific evidence
third event
language such as to explain your
• Explain using
‘therefore’ point.
specific detail
(dates/facts)
• Use analytical
phrases
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PART ONE – THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE WEST 1835-62

Who were the Plains Indians?
The Native American Indians lived on the Great

Plains which went from north to south in the
middle of America. The map shows exactly how
much land they lived on. Very little could grow
there and it was known as the ‘Great American
Desert’.
How were the Plains Indians organised?

 Many different Indian communities were known as TRIBES. These tribes together were known as the
PLAINS INDIANS.
 One of the biggest tribes was the SIOUX and the PAWNEE. Each tribe was separated into BANDS which could
be several hundred to 30-40 people.
 Bands would meet up every summer in a TRIBAL CAMP. Many tribes and bands had to work together and
co-operate to make sure they SURVIVED.
 CHIEFS were the leaders of the tribes. There could be several chiefs such as WAR CHIEF or a SPIRITUAL
CHIEF. Chiefs were chosen because of their skills as a warrior or spiritual knowledge.
 ELDERS were experienced men in the tribe who helped Chiefs make important decisions.
 The most famous chiefs for their fight against the white settlers were Red Cloud, Sitting Bull and Crazy
Horse.
 Plains Indians also had WARRIOR BROTHERHOODS where young men joined to prove their bravery and skill
as a hunter and fighter. These young men were trained and taught the traditional beliefs of the Plains
Indians.
 WOMEN played an important part by taking the role of feeding and using the BUFFALO to produce goods for
the tribes. Women were HIGHLY RESPECTED and were essential to the survival of the tribe.
***Revision activity***
Summarise the roles of:
Tribes/bands Chiefs Warrior brotherhoods Women
What were the Great Plains like?

 Dry with few streams or rivers
 Thunderstorms would cause fires from the lightening.
 Strong dry winds
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 Very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer.
How did the Plains Indians survive on the Great Plains?

 Plains Indians hunted buffalo on horseback. They followed the buffalo living a NOMADIC life by following
them every season as they grazed on grass.
 Had amazing archery skills and horse riding skills to shoot the buffalo to kill them.
 A NOMADIC life would be helped by living in TIPIS which could be taken down and packed easily. They also
had TRAVOIS which carried the family belongings
 Skills to use EVERY PART of the buffalo for something they depended on.
 A DEEP RESPECT for the buffalo and the land around them. They believed the land itself must be treated
with great respect and believed in the GREAT SPIRIT.
 Moved into warmer LODGES in the winter months.
Why was the horse IMPORTANT to the Plains Indians?

 Needed to HUNT the buffalo across the plains.
 Significant in WARFARE and gave STATUS to the Plains Indians
 WEALTH was measured in how many horses an Indian had. SPECIFIC EXAMPLE: the Comanche Tribe had
8,000 horses to only 3,000 people.
Summarise why the buffalo and horses were important to the Plains Indians way of life:
(think what would have happened without them)
Buffalo Horses
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What did Plains Indians believe about nature and land?

 Believed that everything in nature had a SPIRIT who would sometimes help humans.
 Believed that humans were a part of NATURE and should work with the spirits and obey them.
 Believed that humans could contact the spirits through VISION QUESTS guided by spirit animals. They would
dance the SUN DANCE to enter the spirit world.
What did they believe about land and property?

 Land was SACRED but few farmed as the land was so dry.
 Very few Plains Indians believed in OWNING land for their
own ‘property’. Land should not be bought or sold.
 Hunting lands were SHARED.
 Farming and mining were seen as DISRESPECTFUL to the land.
What was their attitude to war?

 Indian tribes sometimes RAIDED each other for food, horses and women (to marry).
 YOUNG MEN were valuable and so tribes did not like fighting and losing them in battle so few battles took
place.
 One tactic to reduce deaths was to RAID QUICKLY and only if they could escape. Only selected
brotherhoods would go on raids.
 A COUNTING COUP was a special type of fighting where a warrior would attempt to hit (rather than kill)
What were the US laws and policies toward the Plains Indian land between 1830 – 1851?
 White settlers believed they had a RELIGIOUS RIGHT to take over the as they were SUPERIOR and knew how
to farm the land.
 The white settlers aimed to make Plains Indians more like themselves BUT did not like the two cultures to
mix – THIS WAS A PROBLEM.
***Revision activity*** complete notes on Plains Indians beliefs about nature/land and war:
Land and nature War
Plains Indians beliefs
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US GOVERNMENT POLICIES TOWARDS THE PLAINS INDIANS’ LAND

1. 1830 INDIAN REMOVAL ACT - President Jackson
pressured 46,000 Plains Indians living in the east to move
west of the Mississippi into land which was then called
the INDIAN TERRITORY. Jackson promised they would
not have to move from here. The route taken was names
‘The Trail of Tears’.
2. 1834 INDIAN TRADE AND INTERCOURSE ACT - Indian

Territory was now ALL to the west of the Mississippi. This
led to….
3. 1834 THE PERMANENT INDIAN FRONTIER (a BORDER

between the Indians and the White Settlers) This stopped
whites from settling on Indian land and stopped the sale
of guns or alcohol to American Indians. It was guarded by
US troops via a military road (track)
THE TURNING POINT? At this time, few whites wanted to travel west BUT in the 1840s more whites wanted to travel
west due to the following event.
4. 1848 – AMERICA DEFEATS MEXICO AND GAINS LAND. A new state of Texas was now set up which gave the US
more land to the south. This gave white settlers a chance to migrate west using this extra land.
THE TURNING POINT? Now the American government wanted people to move west. Using Texas would be less
expensive than travelling by sea. The American government used US troops to guard the new trails to stop Indians
attacking the white settlers. NOW THE WHITE SETTLERS WOULD BE ALLOWED OVER THE FRONTIER.
5. 1851 – INDIAN APPROPRIATION ACT – The US government now placed Indians into ‘RESERVATIONS’ where they
would be restricted and not able to have a nomadic lifestyle. Their land was reduced further in the hope the Indians
would turn to farmland.
END POINT: Government Policy adapted to the needs of the white settlers at each stage so despite promising the
Indians they would not be moved from their land, this changed as more whites wanted to move west.
***Revision activity*** Plan the answer to following exam question:
Write a narrative account analysing the key developments in US Government policy towards the Plains
Indians in the years 1830 to 1851. You may use the following in your answer:
 The Indian Removal Act 1830

 The Indian Appropriation Act 1851
You MUST also use information of your own. (8)
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Why did white settlers want to migrate west?
THESE REASONS CAN BE DIVIDED INTO PUSH AND PULL FACTORS.
PUSH FACTOR: A negative event that is ‘pushing’ the white settlers to leave the east.
PULL FACTOR: A positive reason that would attract the white settlers to the west.
1. ECONOMY IN THE EAST - People had lost their jobs and savings. Unemployment was as high as 25%. Wages had
been cut 40%. People wanted a better life.
2. BETTER FARMLAND IN OREGON - The white settlers knew there was better farmland from the few traders who
had been there. There was rich farmland west of the ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
3. THE OREGON TRAIL - The Oregon Trail was first publicised by an explorer called Jedidiah Smith in 1825. Slowly,
other explorers dug out the trail. The first to use the trail with a wagon was in 1836. These people were
MISSIONARIES who wanted to spread the worship of Christianity to the Plains Indians.
USEFUL STATISTICS: These proved to other people that they could make it to the west if they wanted to.
1841 – 60 people made the trail 1843 – 900 people had used the trail.
4. THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD - First opened in 1869 as a railway and carried over 400,000 people. It
followed the route of the Oregon Trail.
5. GOVERNMENT HELP AND PUBLICITY – In 1841, the government used $30,000 to fund an expedition to map the
Oregon Trail. The REPORT and map of the trail made it sound like an ADVENTURE, EXCITING and achievable. The
Government used this to advertise the trail. By 1846, over 5,000 people had travelled the trail.
6. THE GOLD RUSH 1849 - 100,000 people left the east to reach CALIFORNIA as gold had been discovered. Gold was
the ultimate pull factor. California’s POPULATION reached 300,000 by 1855 and its economy grew with the many
‘PROSPECTORS’ who wanted to find gold and get rich.
The consequences of the Gold Rush – promoted the image of the west as a success and where people could be rich,
gain freedom and a new start.
 Farmland became more popular and led to more food being exported all around the world.
 Money from the Gold Rush helped pay for the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869.
 The rapid growth in towns led to problems with law and order.
 The white settlers murdered or enslaved Californian Indians to get them out of the way.
7. THE MANIFEST DESTINY - This was the BELIEF that the white Americans had to populate all areas of America.
They believed it was GOD’S WILL for the white settlers to take possession of the USA to make it ‘CIVILISED’. It was
also this belief that made the white settlers believe they had to change the Indians or remove them as they were not
civilised.
Highlight the push factors in one colour

and the pull factors in another colour to
show why people went west.
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WHAT WERE THE PROBLEMS OF MIGRATING WEST?
FACTS: The Oregon Trail was 3,200km long. Migrants had to plan their trip carefully.
1. It needed to be completed BEFORE WINTER otherwise they would get stuck in the mountains or freeze.
2. Could not start until the April GRASS had grown to feed their animals.
3. Needed to take ENOUGH FOOD for the journey such as salt pork and essentials for setting up home.
4. The OXEN that were used to transport the good were strong but SLOW. They travelled at 3km per hour.
5. Most groups of wagons called ‘WAGON TRAINS’ had to be at least 20 wagons long as it was safer to travel in
larger groups but slower.
6. It was important to make sure there was a variety of SKILLS within the group for their survival.
THE MAIN PROBLEMS:

 Getting ill
 Getting stuck
 Running out of supplies.
 At least 20,000 people died along the trail for these reasons.
 Cholera was a killer disease which came from many people sharing the same camp sites and rivers where the
cholera would spread from. What was used as drinking water was also used at a toilet!
 The migrants feared being attacked by the Native Indians but in reality, there were very few attacks.
EXAMPLE OF WESTWARD MIGRATION FAILURE – THE DONNER PARTY 1846
The Donner Party were 300 migrants in 60 wagons. They were led by the DONNER BROTHERS in May 1846. They
were well equipped but had more elderly people, women and children than usual.
THEIR FIRST MISTAKE: In July, in the Rocky Mountains they decided to break up. 80 migrants including the Donner
Brothers tried a new ‘short cut’ which they thought would reduce the journey by 550km. They had read this in a
guide book written by someone who ‘thought’ the route might work.
THE CONSEQUENCES: The route had not been marked out and was hard to follow. The land was rough and rocky
making it difficult to carry the wagons. They had to cross many rivers. There were stretches of desert with no water
or grass. There were many arguments within the group about what they should do.
EVENTUALLY: They did not reach the other end until November. Snow storms trapped their route. Their livestock
ran out or died. When rescuers from California reached them only half were alive and only because they had eaten
those that had died.
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Use the revision guide and your own knowledge to summarise the events/consequences of the Donner and Knight
party migrating west.
Events Mistakes Consequences

Donner party
Knight party
EXAMPLE OF WESTWARD MIGRATION SUCCESS – MORMON MIGRATION 1846-7
The Mormons were a RELIGIOUS

GROUP who had been discriminated
against by other Christian groups in
the East because of their different
beliefs such as POLYGAMY (where a
man could marry several wives at
once). They were PUSHED out by
other groups in the east.
WHAT MADE THEM LEAVE? The

discrimination had become that bad
that their leader JOSEPH SMITH
was murdered in 1845. The group
believed they would have safety in a
place known as SALT LAKE VALLEY, south of the Oregon Trail.
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EVENTS OF THE JOURNEY: They started too early in February when the weather was still too cold and it took them
longer to complete the first stage of their journey. This meant they had to wait another year to continue their
journey.
SO, IN 1847 THEY HAD SUCCESS– They were well supplied and even had a boat for river crossings. They used the
route set out by the Donner Party and cleared land and set up water crossings. Because of this initial success,
70,000 Mormons followed the trail for the Salt Lake Valley.
WHY WAS THE TRIP A SUCCESS?
BRIGHAM YOUNG was the leader.

 He organised an ACCURATE count of people, wagons and goods to make sure there was enough of
everything.
 Young got the help of EXPERIENCED trails GUIDES rather than trying to do it all himself.
 The group were divided into more manageable GROUPS with the right variety of SKILLS in each in order to
survive. Each group was also given a leader.
 Young insisted on very strict DISCIPLINE. There were few arguments as the leader kept control.
 Young taught the migrants how to form their wagons in a CIRCLE at night which helped keep heat, the
livestock in and in case of attack.
 Young planned regular RESTING PLACES.
 The migrants believed that Young was a PROPHET sent by God and so worked together for him.
 They built IRRIGATION systems to help bring water into the dry land of the Salk Lake Valley.
 The Mormons had a range of SKILLS to lead a community when they got there such as blacksmiths,
carpenters and millers.
***Revision activity*** Choose the question you feel least confident on, plan it and then have a go at answering
it. If you struggle, use your notes. This will help you to revise and remember.
Explain two consequences of the setting up of the Oregon Trail in 1836 [8]
Explain two consequences of the failure of the Donner Party [8]
Explain the importance of planning for a migration along the Oregon Trail [8]
Explain the IMPORTANCE of the Oregon Trail for the early settlement of the west (8)
Explain the importance of the leadership of Brigham Young to the successful settlement of the valley of the Great
Salt Lake by the Mormons [8]
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WHAT PROBLEMS DID THE SETTLERS HAVE WHEN SETTING UP FARMS IN THE WEST?
Once the settlers had got to California and Oregon they wanted to set up farms and settle on their own land.
FACTS ABOUT THE LAND: The good climate made farming good. FERTILE SOILS were good to grow WHEAT. Lots of
wheat grown and much EXPORTED to Europe to make more money. Farms started to afford STEAM powered
machines which made them even richer.
SO WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM?
The US GOVERNMENT created two new territories behind the Permanent Indian Frontier but still on the GREAT
PLAINS called NEBRASKA and KANSAS. Some white decided to settle on these new lands and came across a number
of problems.
LOW RAINFALL: ½ the rain they were used to and very few rivers or streams. This led to:
 Soil too dry for crops

 Not enough water for livestock
 Frequent droughts
 No rivers for transporting people or goods.
What was the solution? - Wells were dug as the water was deep but this was expensive.
FEW TREES: Plains Indians actually set fire to some trees to promote more grass for the buffalo. This led to:
 No wood for building houses,

 No timber for fencing in animals and livestock,
 No wood to burn for cooking and heating.
What was the solution? Settlers burned BUFFALO CHIPS which were dried pieces of dung. A lot was needed to keep
a house warm in the winter. Settlers made houses out of SODS of earth which kept the houses warm BUT they were
dirty and infested with insects.
EXTREME CLIMATE: Very hot summer and very cold winter, hailstorms and lightning storms. This led to:
 Crops not growing well in the summer

 Fires from lightning storms
 Uncomfortable living conditions
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What was the solution? There was no real solution. Families had to learn to adapt.
OTHER PROBLEMS:
 Ploughing - the dry soil which was tangled with deep roots. Farmers had to dig by hand or hire an expensive
plough team with oxen.
 Crops - were planted which did not grow well in the soil of the Great Plains and often failed due to dry
conditions.
 Prairie Fires – happened after a long hot summer and the grass would burn too easily and kill crops, livestock
and even people. Fire could be started by Plains Indians encouraging new grass roots, lightning strikes or
accidents from campfires.
 Grasshoppers – would appear in massive swarms and kill of crops, grass even the wool on sheep’s backs.
They also polluted water sources such as streams and lakes.
Answer the following questions:
1. Why was the land good for farming in places like California and Oregon?
2. What were the two new territories created by the US government?
3. Give two problems the settlers faced when setting up farms in the West.
4. One of the problems faced was there wasn’t enough trees. What did this lead to?
5. What was the solution to this problem?
6. What was the problem with ploughing?
7. Why would this be a problem for the settlers?
8. Was there always solutions to their problems? Why/why not?
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Why was there tension between the white settlers and the Plains Indians?
1. FEAR OF THE PLAINS INDIANS – White settlers were sometimes caught up in raids between tribes and
took this the wrong way thinking that they were being attacked. White settlers scared each other with made up
stories of being attacked by the Plains Indians and so misunderstood the intentions of any Plains Indians they
spotted. They were worried that the Indians would SCALP the men or use the women and children as SLAVES.
2. RACISM – The white settlers had strong, racist views about the Indians thinking they were SUPERIOR. This
made them angry when Indians stole horses from them.
3. THREAT TO FOOD – With so much travel on the Oregon Trail for the gold rush, the Indians had serious
problems with the disruption of the BUFFALO. The settlers
killed huge numbers for the MEAT on their journey. The
settlers also caused massive buffalo stampedes because they
did not know how to control them.
4. SHORTAGE OF GRASS – Thousands of oxen and

horses on the Oregon Trail resulted in a lack of grass. This
meant there was tension and competition from both sides to
feed their animals.
5. GOVERNMENT PRESSURE – The white settlers saw

the Plains Indians keeping an eye on them, but even without
being aggressive the settlers believed the Indians were going to
attack them. Some wanted the government to build FORTS so
the ARMY could help PROTECT them.
Use the information on early migration and problems faced to

complete both sides of the scales to show whether migration
was worth the journey.
Worth the journey Not worth the

journey
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THE FORT LARAMIE TREATY 1851
What was the idea behind this? – The US government wanted to ease the tension between the two sides by getting
the Plains Indians to accept a TREATY (AGREEMENT IN LAW) which they would promise to:
 END TRIBAL FIGHTING/RAIDS

 ALLOW SAFE PASSAGE OF THE WHITE SETTLERS ALONG THE OREGON TRAIL.
 AGREE TO LIVE IN ‘FIXED’ TERRITORIES
What were the CONSEQUENCES OF THE AGREEMENT?
1 – Choosing council representatives – The US wanted each tribe to name ONE CHIEF to represent the whole
tribe. The Plains Indians did not work like this and had lots of different chiefs. The Sioux Tribe were an example of
this and made the US Government that frustrated they picked another chief from another tribe.
2 – Getting a representative from ALL the tribes – Some tribes did not attend the negotiations and many were
not really interested (in fact they were there for the FREE FOOD and the GIFTS).
3 – Agreeing boundaries – The US Government wanted exact boundaries on a MAP. The Plains Indians did not
use the land like this as they were willing to travel huge distances to hunt.
4 – TRANSLATION PROBLEMS – The Treaty was written in ENGLISH and there were not enough people to
properly translate to make sure the tribes understood its meaning.
What was agreed in the TREATY OF FORT LARAMIE?

PLAINS INDIANS WOULD: THE US GOVERNMENT WOULD
 End fighting between tribes  Protect the Plains Indians from white
Americans
 Allow migrants to travel through their land  Pay the tribes $50,000 a year as long as they
safely kept the terms of the treaty.
 Allow railroad companies to enter their land
safely
 Allow the government to build roads through
Indian land
 Allow army forts to be built
 Pay compensation if any Indian broke the
terms of the treaty above.
Exam Question: Explain two consequences of the Fort Laramie Treaty in 1851 (8)
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What was the IMPORTANCE of the Treaty of Fort Laramie?
 RESERVATIONS - While not using the term ‘reservations’, for the first time it looked at separating and
restricting the Plains Indians into reservations.
 FREE MOVEMENT FOR WHITES - It now said that whites could travel freely across the plains so it went
against the 1834 Permanent Indian Frontier.
 FORMAL RELATIONSHIP - For the first time there was a relationship between the Plains Indians and white
settlers due to the annual payments and agreements that had been made.
What were the problems with the treaty?

 Plains Indian culture did not agree with having just ONE TRIBAL CHIEF so this showed a lack of
understanding between the two groups.
 Not all the Plains Indian representatives FULLY UNDERSTOOD what they have signed up to due to a lack of
translation and understanding of cultural differences. This affected what they were able to then pass back
to the people in their tribes.
 The Plains Indians did not take the BOUNDARY LINES seriously and still believed they could hunt in any
tribe’s land.
 By giving the Plains Indians RESOURCES as part of their payment, the Indians became to rely on the
American Government.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE PROBLEMS?
 The Plains Indians still fought between tribes which the Government saw as breaking the terms of the
treaty. Migrants moved away from the Oregon Trail and trespassed into Plains Indian land. The US Army
did not stop people from trespassing which they should have been doing.
 The problems of lawlessness in early towns and settlements.
 There were LAWS in the new towns, the problem was that some people did not follow the laws and they
were NOT ENFORCED.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF MASS SETTLEMENT IN THE WEST
In the early 1840s, fewer people lived in the west meaning people relied on
each other more and had to work together to survive. This mean very little
lawlessness.
WHAT MADE THIS CHANGE? THE GOLD RUSH!

The population of California in 1846 was 8,000 by 1850 it was
120,000 and in 1855 there were 300,000. This MASS MIGRATION made the
system of law and order much more essential.
THE PROBLEMS FOR LAW AND ORDER WERE:

 CAMPS – When gold was found, the camps grew very quickly to hold 1000s of people. This was too quick for
the local officials to work with.
 CLAIMING GOLD – California law said that the person who found the gold had a right to the land and the
gold found there. But claiming gold became a competition and other men set out to steel the land. This was
known as CLAIM JUMPING.
 CON MEN – Some men tried conning a prospector into buying land by planting a few bits of gold on
worthless land.
 ROBBING – Some men came to outside the camps ready to rob any prospectors of their gold.
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 ALCOHOL – Prostitutes often sold alcohol in the mining camps and this led to fights – many carried guns so
this was an added threat.
 PROSTITUTION – Men would become attached to the same woman and a fight would break out.
 A MIX – Prospectors came from around the world and camps mixed everyone up which led to tension
between different cultures.
 RACISM – Famine in CHINA led to a huge increase in Chinese migrants
coming to California in 1851 (20,000). They all COMPETED for jobs
working for the mining industry with the white settlers and tension
increased.
 SAN FRANSCISCO – Rival gangs took control of the city in 1851 when
gang members would walk into saloons, kill them, and take their
money.
How did the US government and local communities tackle lawlessness?

1. National (Federal) Law Enforcement – all of the territories in the west were
under the control of the FEDERAL (NATIONAL) government. It was only when a territory had over 60,000 people
it could apply to become a STATE and have its own government, laws and legal system.
Each territory had a GOVERNOR, THREE JUDGES and a US MARSHALL A Sherriff – once a territory had over
5,000 people it could elect a SHERIFF to be in charge.
What were the consequences and problems of this way of tackling lawlessness?
 GEOGRAPHY – territories covered huge pieces of land with scattered settlements. A sheriff could cover
200,000km in his area.
 COMMUNICATION – The only form of transport was a horse and so news of any lawlessness travelled
slowly.
 NUMBERS – There were not enough law officers to cover the areas in the territories.
 MONEY – The Federal (National) government did not spend much money on law enforcement and the
officers were not well paid. It was difficult to recruit officers and many were corrupt.
 TRAINING – The officers had no real legal training and would take the law into their own hands or favour
friends over other people. This increased tension further.
2. MINING INDUSTRIES – Did not have access to a legal system to settle land and money disputes so local
communities did this for them by writing down all the details. They also started their own courts to judge the
people in their district. This led to unfairness and corruption.
3. VIGALIANTE GROUPS – A new form of law enforcement was setting up of VIGILANTES who were ordinary
people who punished suspected law breakers themselves rather than using the official system. Many mining camps
set these up to solve their problems. San Francisco had a vigilante Committee of around 200 people.
SUCCESS – They were successful and reduced the problems of crime.
UNSUCCESSFUL – Suspects would not have a fair trial, suspects would be lynched, some of the vigilante members
were more violent than their suspects.
4. DEALING WITH RACIST CRIMES: The US Government was also racist. White Americans were encouraged to
murder Californian Indians and laws even discriminated against the Chinese. They taxed Chinese miners more than
the US settlers. They also banned Chinese and American Indians from being a witness in court as they did not trust
them.
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Below is an exam style question and the start of an answer to the question. The paragraph states the importance of
the fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 but this is supported with enough evidence. Complete the paragraph by adding more
importance of the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851.
Explain two of the following:
 The importance of the Fort Laramie Treaty 1851.

 The importance of lawlessness in the development of settler towns.
 The importance of attempts to tackle lawlessness.
The Fort Laramie Treaty was an attempt to stop conflict and tension between the settlers and the Plains Indians from
escalating. The Treat was agreed between the US government and representatives of the Plains Indian Nations
(Arapaho, Cheyenne, Crow and Sioux).
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Now explain one of the remaining bullet points:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
What I still need to revise in Part 1 – The Early Settlement of the West
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PART TWO – THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SETTLEMENT IN THE WEST 1862-76
What was the consequence of the American Civil War in 1861-65 for the development of
the West?
CIVIL WAR BASICS
WHAT HAPPENED?
7 Southern States left the rest of the USA and set up what was known as the CONFEDERATES. The
remaining states in the north were called the UNION. The Union north won and the southern states
re-joined the rest of the USA.
WHAT WERE THE CONSEQUENCES?
 At the end of the war in 1865, over 600,000 Americans had died. 400,000 were wounded. The
southern states were devastated by the war.
 The Government needed to re-build the south and also gave citizenship (FREEDOM) to former
African American slaves.
HOW DID THIS AFFECT THE WEST?
 Many southerners wanted a NEW START to their lives in the west.

 Many southerners were helped to do this with government LAWS which made it easier for them to
travel west.
 Many Black Americans decided to move away from the South to make a new life in the West.
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HOW DID THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT MORE SETTLEMENT AFTER THE CIVIL WAR?
The American government was now ruled just by the NORTH who could have their own say on what
happened. Previously, the southern states had wanted slavery to continue and any farms in the west to
have slave labour. The north however, wanted farm workers to be free. Now the war was over, the north
had the say.
They introduced TWO IMPORTANT LAWS which had a huge significance on the West:
1. THE HOMESTEAD ACT (1862) – Wanted to set up individual farms in the West, owned and
worked by free men and women.
2. THE PACIFIC RAILROAD ACT (1862) – Aimed at developing more connection between the new
land in the West and the northern cities which were becoming more ‘industrialised’.
THE HOMESTEAD ACT 1862

 The government PROMOTED more settlement in the
West and gave INCENTIVES for people to take unclaimed
land.
 Land was divided into SMALLER areas which made it more
AFFORDABLE for more people.
 These pieces of land were called HOMESTEADS which was
a house and enough land to support the family.
 It cost just $10 to register a claim for the land.
 Rather than big businesses owning a lot of the land, it was
important for ordinary citizens to own the land to
encourage money from farming.
WHAT WERE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE HOMESTEAD ACT?
 Anyone could claim for land over 21. This meant that even ex-slaves and women could own land
(although this was not allowed to Plains Indians)
 Once someone had lived there for 5 years they could opt to buy the land for good for $30.
WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE HOMESTEAD ACT?
 6 million acres of government land sold.

 Parts of the Great Plains settled in for the first time.
 Half of Nebraska’s land was Homestead Land. It then was populated enough to become a state.
 It encouraged more immigration from Europe. By 1875 over half of Nebraska’s population were
recent immigrants.
PROBLEMS WITH THE HOMESTEAD ACT:
 Only 13 million acres of land had been fully bought by 1884.

 Only 16% of the land available from the government was actually bought up.
 Many homesteads were bought not from the government but from the railroad companies.
 60% of the homesteads were not ‘proven up’ (fully bought) because of the problems with farming.
 Big business owners were still able to buy up lots of land to make profit from.
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***Revision activity*** EXAM QUESTION: Explain TWO consequences of the Homestead Act (8)
PACIFIC RAILROAD ACT (1862)
It would be over 2000km long and go from California (West) to Nebraska (East)
KEY DATES TO HELP DEVELOP A NARRATIVE ACCOUNT OF THE RAILROADS:

1. 1853-55 – SURRVEY OF THE RAILROAD ROUTES
2. 1861 – CIVIL WAR REMOVES ANY OPPOSITION TO A NORTHERN RAILROAD.
The Southern states had wanted a route to help the south, but with the northern states winning,
they made the decision to build the railroad linking the west with all of the main northern cities.
3. 1862 – PACIFIC RAILROAD ACT PASSED
4. 1863 – WORKS BEGINS EITHER END OF THE LINE.
5. 1869 – COMPLETION OF THE RAILROAD
WHAT DID THE RAILROAD COMPANIES GAIN FROM THE GOVERNMENT?
 Removed any Plains Indian rights to the land along the railroad route.
 Given $16,000 for every mile of track built. This resulted in $61million.
 Given large sections of land along the route which they could then sell for profit. Overall, this was
45 million acres of land from the Plains Indians.
 The railroad companies encouraged settlers from America and Europe. 10,000 Scandinavians
settled and 60,000 Germans.
WHAT WAS THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE RAILROADS ON THE SETTLERS?
 Travelling west much easier and cheaper.

 Encouraged immigration from Europe.
 Increased the growth of towns along the route.
 Farmers could transport their grain to sell in northern cities.
 Settlers could buy goods from the northern cities.
 Enabled the growth of the cattle industry, especially in Texas.
 Made many white settlers believe that the belief of the Manifest Destiny had come true.
 Massive trade benefits for the country as a whole also opened up trade routes with Europe and
Asia.
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 Farmers called Mennonites from Russia introduced a new type of wheat called ‘TURKEY RED’ wheat
which grew well on the Great Plains. Soon farmers were able to export this for great money.
WHAT WAS THE CONSEQUENCE/IMPACT OF THE RAILROADS ON THE PLAINS INDIANS?
 Indians moved away from railroad routes as a precaution.

 Reduced buffalo numbers because of the reduction of grassland and the settlers hunting.
 Plains Indian attacks on the railroad workers increased conflict with the US Army
 The railroad essentially led to white settlers to ‘invade’ the land of the Plains Indians.
WHAT WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF RAILROADS ON THE HOMESTEADERS?
 Homesteaders could visit family members easily and cheaply which reduced the isolation they felt
and gave an incentive for family members to move west.
 They could order manufactured goods from the city and have it delivered via train.
 More towns were created along the route which gave Homesteaders more social opportunities and
business links.
THE CONSEQUENCES AND IMPORTANCE OF NEW INVENTIONS ON FARMING

1854 ‘Self-governing’ windmills 1874: Barbed Wire 1875 ‘Sulky Plow’
1870 steel blades for windmills.
PURPOSE Pump water out of the ground to Fence off crops to protect Plough up tough weeds and
irrigate farmland and make soil more from being eaten by animals grass on the Great Plains
fertile. and livestock.
ADVANTAGE Could pump water from 30m deep Cheaper than buying Made ploughing easier and
wells. Steel blades meant they could timber. quicker. 50,000 sulky ploughs
stand up to the strong Plains winds and More effective. sold in 6 years.
work even harder. Quicker to erect.
DISADVANTAG Not powerful to reach below 30m Not used widely until 1880. Very expensive for most
E Needed constant maintenance Early types rusted. farmers. Were unstable and
Expensive at first. could tip up.
THE TIMBER CULTURE ACT 1873 – Encouraged Homesteaders to plant more trees in return for extra
land. The CONSEQUENCES of this were:
 Wind breaks to shelter crops from damage and soil being lost in dry weather.
 Timer for the settlers to build more houses, fences and furniture.
 Fuel for fires.
 In Minnesota, there was huge tree growth.
HOW DID THE RAILROADS CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH LAW AND ORDER?
New towns had problems with law and order to begin with and the railroads were known as HELL ON
WHEELS. Most lawless towns were COW TOWNS due to returning cowboys with their wages out
celebrating.
SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF LAWLESSNESS IN A COW TOWN: ABILINE IN KANSAS
It had a population of 7,000. Cowboys regularly had gun fights, there were murders and it attracted
prostitutes and outlaws. Cowboys even tore down a jail and shot down a sign banning guns.
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1870 – Hired Thomas Smith as a Town Marshall who banned guns and had a forceful reputation. He was
shot and killed in November 1870. His murderers were caught and given long sentences in prison.
1871 – Wild Bill Hickok was appointed town marshal and was feared by the cowboys. He did little and
spent time gambling in the saloons.
Date Event Key features Consequences
1861-
65
1865
1866
1869
1873
1877
(a) Place the events between 1861 and 1876 listed below in the correct chronological sequence in the
timeline.
(b) Summarise the key features of each event.
(c) Outline the consequences of each event.
 Completion of the transcontinental railroad
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 Southern Homestead Act

 Desert Land Act
 Timer Culture Act
 The American Civil War
 Building of the Central Pacific Railroad started
THE CIVIL WAR’S IMPACT LAW AND ORDER

 There were many army deserters (runaways) and ex-soldiers in the west after the war.
 Groups of OUTLAWS were made up of these soldiers who could not find work.
 There was still tension between CONFEDERATE southern soldiers and the UNION northern soldiers
SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF HOW THE CIVIL WAR CAUSED AFFECTED LAW AND ORDER:
THE RENO GAND
 A group of Civil War deserters. They bribed law officers and terrorised communities in the west.
 1866 – TRAIN ROBBERY, opened a safe with $16,000. They struck again in 1867 and 1868. They
then took another $96,000.
 Eventually they were captured by a VIGILANTE group and LYNCHED.
WHAT WERE THE MAIN CONSEQUENCES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 1861-1865?
 America was UNITED again with the CONFEDERACY in the south being defeated by
the UNION in the north.
 SLAVERY was abolished leading to black Americans starting to settle in the west as
free people.
 The RAILROADS could now link the north with the west as it was the north who won.
 Any Plains Indians who supported the southern CONFEDERACY lost their protection
for their lands.
 Texan cattlemen returned from the war with bigger heard and new markets for beef.
 600,000 died in the war.
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 The southern states withdrew from power which brought about the Homestead Act
 Ex Soldiers causes problems with Law and order in the cattle towns.
 Problems in the south led to more people wanting a new start and to settle in the
west.
RANCHING AND THE CATTLE INDUSTRY

What was the cattle industry like before the Civil War?
More Americans took over cattle herding after the win against Mexico in 1836. These cattlemen were
known as COWBOYS in America. Texan cowboys herded cows on long distance CATTLE DRIVES across
states. Due to a disease known as TEXAS FEVER, farmers in other parts of the US were against cowboys
from Texas taking their cows into their states. In 1855 – MISSOURI farmers formed a VIGILANTE
committee to block Texas cattle drives and also a quarantine law was passed to stop Texan cattle from
coming into Missouri.
What happened to the cattle industry after the Civil War in 1865?
In the North - Beef was in great demand in big northern cities such as Chicago where INDUSTRIALISED
meat packing had been invented. Cows could be worth $40 each as they could be turned into food quickly
and cheaply.
In the South - The price had dropped dramatically. LONGHORN cattle had not been managed properly,
they were half wild and were in HUGE NUMBERS and the people of the south were so devastated by the
war they could not afford to pay big prices. A cow would only be worth $5. Cowboys in the south
organised a huge cattle drive to the north but were stopped at KANSAS due to the fear of TEXAS FEVER.
Why was Joseph McCoy and Abilene so IMPORTANT?

IN 1867, one line of the railroad reached a place called Abilene in Kansas. A livestock trader called JOSEPH
MCCOY realised that Abilene could be a new transport place for the cattle drives because it had 3
advantages:
1) Abilene was near Kansas which had relaxed its QUARENTINE LAWS. This meant Texan cattle could
go through the state.
2) There was plenty of GRASSLAND through Kansas called the CHISOLM TRAIL where cowboys could
bring their cattle.
3) Cattle could be loaded onto RAILROAD TRUCKS in Abilene and taken straight to Chicago in the
north.
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What did Joseph McCoy do that was so IMPORTANT?
 Bought LAND CHEAPLY where the cattle could be kept safely near the railroad.
 Negotiated with the Kansas railroad company to build a DEPOT where the cattle could be kept and
100 railways cars.
 He built a HOTEL near the line for workers.
 He made sure the CHISOLM TRAIL was well marked out for the cowboys to bring their cattle to the
railroad.
 He spent $5,000 ADVERTISING this new opportunity in Texas by promising the Texan cowboys easy
access to the railroad.
 By 1867, 35,000 cattle had been driven across the Chisolm Trail by the end of 1867 and 3 million
cattle between 1867 – 72.
 Abilene became known as the first COWTOWN and McCoy became very rich.
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
Why was the Goodnight-Loving Trail 1866 so IMPORTANT?
 This Trail was set up in 1866 by CHARLES GOODNIGHT and OLIVER LOVING
 It was set up to take 2,000 cattle to starving Navajo Indians. Here both men were able to sell 800
cattle for $12,000 which was four times as much as they would get in Texas.
 Goodnight went back to Texas to collect more cattle and Loving sold the remaining cattle.
 Goodnight brought more cattle even further north and in 1868 drove his cattle all the way up to
Chayenne near the Union Pacific Railroad. (see map above)
 Goodnight was so successful that his ranch in Texas had grown to 1 million acres. His success,
made other cattle ranchers take cattle to Wyoming (see map) which started its own cattle industry.
ALL THIS LED TO CATTLE NOW BEING RANCHED ON THE GREAT PLAINS
AND INTERFEERING WITH THE LIFE OF THE PLAINS INDIANS.
John Iliff and the start of cattle ranching on the Plains.
John Iliff realised that a new area of Colorado in the Rocky Mountains had just experienced a GOLD
RUSH, had a bigger population and this meant a DEMAND FOR MEAT. Rather than spend money getting
the cattle there on long drives, he would put the cattle on the grasslands of the plains to fatten them up
and sell them straight to the new towns.
What did John Iliff do that was so IMPORTANT?

 Bought land in Denver Colorado and 26,000 cattle.
 Used the HOMESTEAD ACT to build up more areas of land he could claim.
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 He became Denver’s first MILLIONARE and also had a contract to provide beef to a reservation of
7,000 SOUIX INDIANS.
 He was the first to raise his herd on the Great Plains rather than Texas and SHOWED OTHERS that
this could also be done. This led to large scale OPEN RANGES where the cattle were not fenced off
but allowed to roam freely.
Who were the CATTLE BARONS?

1870S saw a BEEF BONANZA in the West with more new cattle ranches in the Great Plains itself. The men
who dominated this industry were called CATTLE BARONS. They made huge profits, had lots of
investment and were able to sell meat cheaply. These men were so powerful they also controlled local
politics as well as lots of land. They gave out harsh punishments for CATTLE RUSTLING.
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTION:
Write a narrative account analysing the key

stages in the growth of cattle ranching in the
years 1861-72. You may use the following in
your answer:
 Joseph McCoy and Abelene

 Cattle Barons
You MUST also use information of your own.
(8)
***Revision activity***: complete the following knowledge organiser on:
Joseph McCoy John Illiff
What he did What he did
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Why this was important Why this was important
What they did Why this was important
COWBOYS
Charles
AND THE
Goodnight &
CHANGES IN
THE CATTLE
Oliver Loving
INDUSTRY
LIFE ON THE
LONG
DRIVE
 Driving
cattle
up the
Chisholm Trail took between 2-3 months.

 Driving cattle up with Goodnight Loving Trail took 6 months.
 It was difficult as large herds of LONGHORN cattle were easily SPOOKED and this led to a
STAMPEDE.
 It was common for cattle to LOSE WEIGHT using the energy on the drive or fall ILL.
 Worst STAMPEDES happened at NIGHT.
 Cattle found it difficult CROSSING RIVERS
 Cattle were threatened by SNAKES and other WILD ANIMALS.
 Involved 3,000 cattle with only 12 cowboys to manage them. WRANGLERS looked after the horses.
 Cowboys slept in the OPEN AIR and took it in turns to stay awake and night to GUARD the animals.
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 Each day, they would only be able to travel 15-20 MILE.

 At the end of the trail, they would reach the railroad where the cattle were put into BOXCARS and
then the cowboys would be PAID. TIME TO GET DRUNK AND HAVE SOME LAWLESS FUN
LIFE ON THE RANCH
 In the winter the cattle roamed freely and few cowboys were employed.
 In the spring, cowboys from all ranches WORKED TOGETHER to round up the cattle. The BRANDS
on the cattle would show which range they belonged to.
 It was HARD WORK – most would be very fit and young.
 The cowboys lived in a shared BUNKHOUSE but there was little ENTERTAINMENT and very STRICT
RULES.
CHANGES ON THE PLAINS:

 The job of rounding up the cattle only took days rather
than months.
 The WINTER on the Plains was a new problem as cattle
could not get to the grass because of SNOW and ICE.
Ice would stop the cattle from drinking fresh WATER
and cowboys would have to ride out in BLIZZARDS to
find the cattle. Sometimes, cowboys would have to
stay in SOD HOUSES around the range which was very
lonely.
RIVALRY BETWEEN RACHERS AND HOMESTEADERS

 The homesteaders did not like the amount of PUBLIC
LAND that the ranchers were using for cattle.
Ranchers also wanted homesteaders off their land and
tried several tactics:
 Ranchers would buy the land with WATER or springs so homesteaders would not be attracted to
buy land nearby without this essential resource.
 Workers (RANCH HANDS) would buy land through the Homestead Act and then just give it to the
Ranch owner.
 Ranchers bought lots of PATCHES of land near the railroads which when fenced off would make it
difficult for homesteaders to buy large enough pieces of land for themselves.
 Ranchers were RICHER than Homesteaders and could often afford to take Homesteaders to COURT
for land knowing they would win.
 Ranchers THREATENED homesteaders would violence and RUSTLING which they knew carried a
very serious punishment in the new cattle towns.
 Often argument between ranches and homesteaders when cattle wandered onto homestead land
and ate crops.
 ALL THIS LED TO FURTHER TENSION AND LAWLESSNESS
CONFLICT OVER SHEEP FARMING
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Cattlemen argued with sheep herders about the land they had. Cowboys claimed that sheep had diseases
which could spread and ate all the grass. Some sheep farmers fenced off their herd but these were taken
down by the cattle ranchers who had more power and influence.
Plan an answer to the following question:
Explain TWO consequences of the development of ranching on the Plains in the years 1866-76 (8)
Consequence 1: Consequence 2:
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE CHANGES ON THE LIFE OF THE PLAINS INDIANS
CONSEQUENCES OF THE RAILROADS ON THE PLAINS INDIANS:

 The Fort Laramie Treaty 1851 meant tribes had to allow railroad workers to enter their lands.
 Railroad companies were given LAND GRANTS which took away land from the Plains Indians.
 Reduced land took away GRAZING LAND for the BUFFALO and reduced the size of the herds.
 White settlers built FENCES which blocked the natural movement of the buffalo and disrupted
Plains Indian’s HUNTS.
 The railroad needed to be fenced off which also blocked the routes of the BUFFALO.
 Railroads allowed the EXTERMINATION of the buffalo by the white settler hunters.
 The Pacific Railroad Act reduced the rights the Plains Indians had to land.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE CATTLE

INDUSTRY ON THE PLAINS
INDIANS:
 As the number of cattle
increased on the Plains, the
number of buffalo decreased
because they ate all the GRASS.
Specific example – By 1880 there
were 4.5 million cattle on the
Great Plains.
 If Plains Indians could not find
buffalo, they went WORK ON A
RANCH. This meant they were
now taken away from their
traditional lifestyle. It also
meant they DEPENDED on the white settlers for money.
 Plains Indians felt the need to organise patrols to see who was using their land. Some tribes like the
Comanche ATTACKED the cowboys, stole horses and cattle from their long drives. This led to
revenge from the US army who then attacked the tribes.
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CONSEQUENCES OF GOLD PROSPECTING ON THE PLAINS INDIANS:

 Some Plains Indians had been MURDERED by gold prospectors in California to remove them from
claiming the gold.
 Plains Indians were affected by new DISEASES from the white settlers which devastated Plains
Indian populations.
 Plains Indians were not used to the new churches, stores, schools and saloons that were built by
the white settlers. It threatened their WAY OF LIFE and happened very quickly.
 Plains Indians were shocked by the thousands of prospectors that arrived very quickly if gold had
been found. SPECIFIC EXAMPLE – Speculators went through the BOZEMAN TRAIL which had been
first prohibited under the Fort Laramie Treaty.
US GOVERNMENT POLICIES TOWARDS THE PLAINS INDIANS AND ITS IMPACT:
Plains Indians agreed to be put onto reservations as they were promised they would not lose any more
land, they would be cared for, given hunting land, protected and provided with money and food. THE
GOVERNMENT OFTEN BROKE THESE PROMISES.
WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THE RESERVATIONS ON THE PLAINS INDIANS?
The US government wanted the Plains Indians in reservations to hopefully make them farmers, give them
Christianity, educate the children to read and write English and lean about American values. The US Army
would protect the Plains Indians from other tribes
WHAT WERE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE RESERVATIONS FOR THE PLAINS INDIANS?
 Putting them onto reservations showed NO UNDERSTANDING of NOMADIC LIFESTYLE.

 Plains Indians chiefs agreed the treaties but could not stop others in the tribe such as the
brotherhoods stay on the reservation.
 Reservations were sometimes a LONG DISTANCE from the tribe’s SACRED places.
 Sometimes traditional ENEMIES were placed on the SAME reservation.
 Reservations often had very POOR FARMLAND so crops failed. This made the Indians rely even
more on the US Government for food.
 Each reservation was run by a CURRUPT and CHEATING organisation called the BUREAU OF INDIAN
AFFAIRS.
 Reservation land was often REDUCED IN SIZE as the white settlers complained that they needed
more land.
WHAT WAS PRESIDENT GRANT’S PEACE POLICY IN 1868?
 Its aim was to settle the growing tension between Native Indians and the settler.
 It aimed to replace the corrupt and unfair RESERVATION AGENTS with religious QUAKERS who
were known to be fair and peaceful. The name of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs was ELY
PARKER. ELY PARKER believed that instead of negotiating with the tribes they should simply be told
what to do as they were HELPLESS AND IGNORANT CHILDREN.
 It had a budget of $2 million
 It promised the Indians on the reservations they would be looked after.
 Any Indian not on a reservation was to be seen as HOSTILE and would be attacked
ALL THIS BECAME LAW IN ANOTHER INDIAN APPROPRIATION ACT OF 1871.
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CONFLICT AND WAR WITH THE PLAINS INDIANS 1862-1868

TIMELINE:
1862 = Little Crow’s War
1864 = Sand Creek Massacre
1866 = Red Cloud’s War
1866 = ‘Fetterman’s Trap’ in Red Cloud’s War
1868 = The Second Ford Laramie Treaty
Name LITTLE CROW’S WAR 1862 SAND CREEK MASSACRE 1864 RED CLOUD’S WAR 1866-68
Name of Chief
Little Crow Black Kettle Red Cloud
TRIBE Dakota Sioux in Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes in Lakota Sioux in Minnesota
Minnesota Colorado Territory
Initial cause of White population increased. The Fort Laramie Treaty in 1851 The Fort Laramie Treaty in 1851
tension. Led to the number of buffalo promised land to the tribes. promised to protect land.
reducing due to overuse of
the grass. When gold was discovered in their Angry after the Gold Rush in 1862, a
Colorado Territory in 1858, white trail called the BOZEMAN TRAIL was
settlers began crossing the land, used by white settlers and took
using the grass, scaring the buffalo them through Sioux land.
away and even settling on their
land. 2,000 people had done this by 1865
What did the An agreement with the US An agreement with the US An agreement with the US
Plains Indians government for land and government for land PROTECTION government to stop the use of the
want? buffalo. and buffalo. Bozeman Trail being used.
What did the In 1851, the tribe agreed to THE TREATY OF FORT WISE 1861 If the Lakota Sioux allowed white
US move to two reservations settlers along the Bozeman Trail,
Government in return for a payment of The Cheyenne and Arapaho chiefs they would get gifts and a promise
promise? $1.4 million with a yearly including BLACK KETTLE agreed to that their land would not be
payment of $80,000 in cash move to a reservation with the disturbed any more.
and resources. promise they would be protected.
Little Crow believed that the

deal would mean SECURITY
for his people.
Problems with The Dakota Sioux still had to After Little Crow’s War, a few Red Cloud realised that before he
this pay off $2000,000 DEBT to Plains Indians did not know agreed a deal, the army were
agreement. traders. whether to trust the US preparing to use the trail anyway.
Government or not.
The reservations did not He did not trust the US government,
provide enough food for the Many of the young warriors known especially after what had happened
WINTER as DOG SOLDIERS refused to move to Little Crow.
away from their old lands.
Indians were punished if The government realised they
trying to find food outside of This resulted in frequent attacks needed to try better to convince the
the reservation. between the DOG SOLDIERS and Indians to move onto reservations.
the PROSPECTORS trying to use
The agency and LOCAL their land.
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TRADERS took advantage of

the starving Indians to After three years of attack, BLACK
charge more money for food. KETTLE, government officials and
the ARMY tried to reach another
THE BIG PROBLEM BY 1862… agreement.
By 1862, the Dakota Sioux
were starving, crops had BLACK KETTLE set up a camp at
failed, late payments from SAND CREEK where he BELIEVED
the government meant they he was protected by the US Army.
had no money to buy food.
The Indians even tried to

survive by EATING GRASS.
Did the NO. NO. DID NOT HAVE TIME
Government Reservations did not provide The local governor JOHN EVANS Red Cloud decided to fight the white
keep their enough food. set out to KILL AND DESTROY’ the settlers rather than TRUST the
promise? Plains Indians. government and risk starving to
White settlers moved onto death.
the best farmland in the 700 Cavalrymen attacked Black
Sioux reservation. Kettle’s camp at Sand Creek.
Showed NO SYMPATHY, COLONEL CHIVINGTON claimed he

even though they had a FULL had fought a tough battle against
STOREHOUSE, they REFUSED over 1,000 Indians. THIS WAS NOT
TO GIVE CREDIT for the TRUE.
Indians to pay off later.
The Indians put up WHITE FLAGS in
In 1858, the Dakota Sioux surrender but the army still
were made to sign away massacred over 130 men, women
HALF OF THEIR LAND to pay and children.
off the debts they had.
They SCALPED their victims and
took the BODY PARTS of some to
be displayed in the local white
settler SALOONS.
How did the Warrior Brotherhoods began They could not react after so many Attacked local workers on the trail
Plains Indians RAIDS to capture resources deaths until Black Kettle ordered building the army forts.
react? from the local Indian Agency more attacks.
camp. Joined by two other leaders of the
The Indians then attacked forts and Lakota Sioux – SITTING BULL and
Took food from agency killed many white settlers in the CRAZY HORSE.
warehouses and gave it to Colorado Territory.
the starving Indians. It involved 3,000 PLAINS INDIANS
fighting against 700 US ARMY
Burnt down agency SOLDIERS.
warehouses.
WHAT WAS ‘FETTERMAN’S TRAP?
Attacked settler towns and The Lakota Sioux often sent out 2
army forts. SCOUTS who deliberately got
Warrior Brotherhoods SPOTTED. They then led 80 men of
slaughtered settlers the army of CAPTAIN WILLIAM
including women and FETTERMAN into an AMBUSH.
children.
He and all of his men were killed.
600 settlers and US soldiers
were killed by the Dakota
Sioux.
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How did the Thought as the Civil War was Black Kettle told other tribes and Red Cloud was able to bring other
Chief ongoing, now would be the now did not trust the white tribes such as the CHAYENNE to help
respond? time to attack. Americans. his war.
Later that year, Red Cloud’s Sioux

won another victory by stopping any
settlers from using the Bozeman
Trail.
Eventually 400 Indians were arrested, American government put the two THE SECOND FORT LARAMIE
what put on trial and SENTENCED tribes on half the size previously TREATY 1868
happened? TO DEATH without any promised. The US Government agreed to
evidence. (Only 38 men CLOSE THE BOZEMAN TRAIL –
were ever found guilty with They had restricted rules to hunt (Another trail had been found by
evidence). buffalo and had to stay away from this point anyway).
the property of white people.
The government put the rest Red Cloud agreed to take his tribe to
of the Dakota Sioux onto They PROMISED the tribes new a reservation.
even worse land called Cow land in their reservation.
Creek Reservation which This treaty promised the reservation
was ISOLATED and DRY. Promised large payments would would be for SIOUX TRIBES ONLY.
Many starved to death in the be made to the survivors of the However, SITTING BULL and CRAZY
winter. Sand Creek Massacre. HORSE refused to sign this treaty.
No compensation was ever paid to

victims of the Massacre.
What Little Crow moved to the Black Kettle died in another Red Cloud continued to fight on and
happened to reservation but was seen by massacre of the Plains Indians in survived the wars. Died in 1909.
the Chief? a hunter and SCALPED 1868.
before having his head
chopped off.
To answer the narrative question, you need to explain three developments. It is a good idea to use the two
points given if you can. However, you will also need to explain a third development. Look at the exam-style
question below and write down your choice for a third development. Give reasons for why you have
chosen it.
Write a narrative account analysing the events of the Indian Wars, 1862 -1868.
You may use the following in your answer:
 Little Crow’s War 1862

 The Second Fort Laramie Treaty 1868
You must also use information of your own (8)
Third development point:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Why I have chosen this:
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_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Details to support this point:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
What I still need to revise in Part 2 – The development of the settlement in the west 1862-76
PART 3: CHANGES IN FARMING, THE CATTLE INDUSTRY AND SETTLEMENT
1876-1895
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The Historical Background

The American Government put a lot of money into scientific research and technology that would help
improve farming all over America. This was particularly helpful to the white settlers in the West.
NEW FARMING BASIC FACTS IMPORTANCE/CONSEQUENCES

 Provided better SOIL in dry conditions.  This technique worked well with
Dry Farming  TRAPPED WATER under the soil. WHEAT which was an important crop
 Also made ROOT GROWTH STRONGER for trade/economy.
Preparing the soil for so crops could get enough water.
growing crops  It was the best way for
differently. HOMESTEADERS to farm the dry
Plains.
Would encourage white settlers to claim

more land on the Plains.
 DANIEL HALLADAY invested a METAL  Important for the Plains where the wind
Wind Pumps BLADED wind pump which would turn was strong and changed direction
with the WIND in any DIRECTION. quickly.
 Water was often 100m down and wooden  Could be used by CATTLE RANCHERS and
Allowed water deep windmills often destroyed in storms and FARMERS as easy to use all over the
underground to be difficult to maintain. West.
accessed easily  LONGER BLADES caught the wind better.  A lot more EFFICIENT to bring up water
 STEEL was also added to the blades and so farming was speeded up.
pumps for strength.
 Introduced in 1874.  TIMBER was in low supply so this made a

Barbed Wire  Could protect CROPS. cheap and easy alternative in this
 Could symbolise their CLAIM (land) environment of the Plains.
 Could fence off important LIVESTOCK.  COST brought down so many could
Used for better  Lasted a long time once a COATING had afford this.
fencing. been applied to the wire to stop it  Made farming more SECURE to protect
RUSTING. animals, crops and land.
 Protected against RUSTLING.

 Needed by DRY FAMRERS to prepared the  FASTER, more EFFICIENT and more
Mechanisatio soil. PRODUCTIVE = more land and more
n  Ploughs could reach DEEPER into the soil. money.
 Plough AUTOMATICALLY PLANTED SEEDS  It linked BIG INDUSTRY in the city to
at the right depth. farming and so this helped the
ECONOMY for both sides further.
Steel ploughs with
automatic seeding Would encourage white settlers to claim
mechanism. more land on the Plains.
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NEW FARMING BASIC FACTS IMPORTANCE/CONSEQUENCES

Dry Farming
Preparing the soil for
growing crops
differently.
Wind Pumps
Allowed water deep

underground to be
accessed easily
Barbed Wire
Used for better

fencing.
Mechanisatio
n
Steel ploughs with

automatic seeding
mechanism.
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What can you remember? Test yourself by filling in the table without looking back at the previous page. Fill
in as much as you can and then check the completed version so you know what you missed and still need
to revise over.
What were the CONSEQUENCES of more money being spent on cattle ranching on the Plains?
1. OVERSTOCKED RANCHES:
Too many cattle meant grass was eaten up, ERODED SOIL, less grass and eventually weaker
animals.
2. A FALL IN DEMAND:
As lots of cattle were available, the PRICE of meat FELL. By 1882, profits were actually going down
but ranchers still kept the cattle just in case the prices went back up again.
3. CLIMATE/WEATHER
When DROUGHT hit in 1883, the grass dried even more. Prairie FIRES from storms also reduced
the grass further.
4. THE GREAT WINTER DIE UP 1886-7.
Winter temperatures fell to -55 degrees. Cattle could not get to the grass through the snow and
ice. Thousands died. At least 15% died. Cattlemen went BANKRUPT
5. POOR CONDITION:
After the winter, animals that did survive were WEAK and so the PRICE FELL even more for cattle.
AS AN OVERALL CONSEQUENCE, SMALL RANCHES WERE EASIER TO MANAGE

WITH THE NEW TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE AND LARGER CATTLE RANCHES NO LONGER EXISTED.
What was the

importance of SMALL
RANCHES and impact of
the end of the Open
Range?
1. Smaller herd could be

EASILY FOUND in bad weather
for food and shelter.
2. Could provide water
easily in times of drought with
better metal WIND PUMPS.
3. Easier to guard so
reduced amount of RUSTLING.
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4. HIGHER QUALITY MEAT led to HIGHER PRICES and profit again.

5. HIGHER QUALITY MEATS were available in PURE BLOODED cattle so in a smaller ranch there is less
chance of stock mixing.
6. More HOMESTEADERS took over cattle ranching as they could keep cattle on their small area of
land.
What was the consequence and impact of the end of the Open Range with cowboys?
 Less demand for COWBOYS who had less adventurous lives
 They stayed in one place and lived in the BUNKHOUSE which was poor quality housing.
 They had to put up with very STRICT RULES all the time as they did not have their freedom of the
cattle drive.
 Much of their life was spent RIDING THE LINE just checking the ranch boundary.
Use the flow chart on the previous page to write a narrative account of the rise and fall of the cattle
industry from the end of the Civil War to the winter of 1886-7.
Plan an answer and create a mark scheme for this question:
Plan: Mark scheme:
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The continued growth of white settlement.

The painting called ‘American Progress’ which still
represents the theory of the Manifest Destiny.
Most white Americans still believed in the religious

idea they were superior and had the right to take
more land in the west.
Annotate the picture on the left showing how it
portrays the idea of manifest destiny
The Exoduster Movement 1879 (Exoduster – black exodus

to the dry, dusty West).
After the American Civil War had ended, the southern slave states were won by
the north. 4 million slaves were now free. White people in the south,
would not accept that the black Americans should be free. Why black Americans
were pushed from the South:
 They used threats, violence, intimidation.

 Stopped blacks from voting.
 They refused to sell land to black people so many black people still had to
work on land for their white ‘owners’ in SHARECROPPING.
As a result, some black Americans decided to move to the WEST and take up
some HOMESTEAD CLAIMS (LAND). One of the first to do this was a former slave
called BENJAMIN SINGLETON who moved to Kansas in 1873. He promoted the
idea and encouraged many more to move there. He helped a large migration of
black Americans to come to Kansas in 1879.
Thousands of ex slaves had heard a (fake) rumour that Kansas had been given to ex- slaves for them to
settle in. By 1879, 40,000 had set off for Kansas.
OTHER REASONS FOR BLACK MIGRATION WEST:

1. Many black Americans liked the idea of moving away from somewhere they had been kept as
slaves.
2. Many black Americans had already started migrating to find better jobs and building new lives.
3. Kansas was historically known for being a slave free state and a place against slavery. They knew
they would be welcomed there.
4. The Homestead Act promoted land to the black Americans and was a significant PULL factor.
5. The bible told black Americans that an EXODUS would be trusted by God who would help them.
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The CONSEQUENCES AND IMPACT OF THE EXODUSTER MOVEMENT:
 1880 = 43,000 black Americans in Kansas.

 The black settlers GIVEN BAD LAND as most had been taken. They needed a lot of help to survive.
 Yellow fever in the Plains made many black Americans ill. Kansas government actually helped the
black Americans rather than sending them back south. This showed an EQUALITY with the whites.
 The black Americans in Kansas were better off then under slavery although still faced some
discrimination from white settlers.
The Oklahoma Land Rush 1893

 Land in the INDIAN TERRITORY was originally protected just for the Plains Indians after the Indian
Removal Act 1830. However, parts of this land in 1887 under a new law called the DAWES ACT,
meant only 160 acres of land was given to the tribes. The remaining land was then up for SALE.
 1889 – This land was up for sale for white settlement. The government said that as 12 noon on 22nd
April 1889 THE LAND COULD BE CLAIMED. When the boundary was opened many white settlers
rushed to grab the land they wanted. This was called a LAND RUSH.
 There were 7 land rushes in Oklahoma between 1889 - 1893. The biggest was in 1893, when 8
million acres was opened up for white settlers.
Practice Exam Question:
Explain the importance of the Oklahoma Land Rush for settlement of the West [8]
Plan your answer and create a mark scheme for this question:
My plan: Mark scheme:
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Conflict and Tension

Why was there increasing conflict and tension in the West?
____________ _____________ ___________ ___________
People would steal Homesteaders, People were afraid to Men were expected to
ranchers, small act against powerful sort out their own
to make a living
ranchers and Plains gangs, corrupt police problems using violence.
and eat. Killing by self-defence
Indians argued over or business people.
was accepted in law.
resources.
___________ ____________ _____________ ______________

Territories were Officers and governors There were few Often dealt with
large – plenty of were often corrupt men who wanted crime harshly and
and bribed by gangs.
space to hide from to be sheriffs and undermined the
Judges could be
the law. bribed. Marshalls. power of the law.
Using the reasons below match them to the correct explanation of why there was increasing conflict and
tension in the West?
 Poverty
 Fear
 Attitudes
 Lawmen
 Weak law system
 Geography
 Vigilantes
 Resources
Billy the Kid key dates

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 EARLY LIFE – no steady job, stole food, cattle rustling and horse steeling. Became famous for breaking out of
jails.
 LINCOLN COUNTY WAR 1878 – He fought with one set of ranchers who wanted more land. He fought
against a rich land baron John Chisum.
 BILLY’S PRIVATE WAR – Billy threatened to kill everyone who had been involved the death of his friend In
the Lincoln War.
 LAW AND ORDER: A new sheriff Pat Garrett was asked by many local ranchers to deal with Billy the Kid.
 CAPTURE, ESCAPE, DEATH – Pat Garratt captured Billy the Kid and brought him to court. He escaped but
was captured again and Garrett shot him dead.
Why was Billy the Kid IMPORTANT to the problems of law and order?
1. EXCITMEMENT: He was an exciting figure. Newspapers wrote about him in a dramatic way and stories were
told about him.
2. FOUGHT THE RICH AND POWERFUL: Minority groups such as the poor, small homesteaders and black
Americans liked the way he stood up against big, powerful businessmen who owned lots of land.
3. WEAK SYSTEM OF LAW: It showed how weak the system of law and justice was in Lincoln County to do
anything about criminals.
Wyatt Earp and the OK Corral 1881

KEY EVENTS:
1874: Was offered a job as a deputy Marshall after helping the
sheriffs to break up a cowboy fight.
1879: Became a Marshall in Dodge City, then moved to Arizona.
1880: In Tombstone Arizona, two rich ranching families hired
Wyatt to bring law and order in the town.
1881: Wyatt is now rumoured to be lawless himself and steeling
horses and stagecoach robberies.
1881: Wyatt Earp and his brothers killed members of the rich family he had previously helped at the OK
Carral near Tombstone (Clantons and McLaurys). He claimed they fired first but others claimed he simply
murdered them.
1882: Wyatt shot dead two people he thought had killed his brother. People turned against him and he
and his family had to flee Tombstone.
HOW DID LAWLESSNESS DECREASE?
1. SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES – People relied more on each business and so there was less of a threat
against them.
2. VOTING – People now voted in town governments and some passed laws to ban guns within the
town limits.
3. COMMUNICATION – Railroads and electricity made it easier for officers and judges to stay in
contact.
The IMPORTANCE of the JOHNSON COUNTY WAR 1892

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 The Range Wars:

This was conflict between different owners of land for more land control. The best known range
war was the JOHNSON COUNTY WAR.
 The Two Sides? :
The rich cattle barons with lots of land Vs the small homesteaders/small ranchers.
What caused it?
 The bigger ranches had become hugely powerful and even had a role in government who owned
most of the land in Wyoming.
 Big ranches would escape punishment as they had links with the lawmen.
 Smaller ranches were fed up with being told what to do and having their land taken away so would
often try to steel cattle.
 The big ranches wanted to take the law into their own hands to stop this rather than use the
lawmen.
The killing of Ella Watson and Jim Averill

 They were small homesteaders who had a claim from a landowner called ALBERT BOTHWELL. He
wanted them gone from his land.
 JIM AVAERILL wrote a letter to a local newspaper calling Bothwell a rich land grabber.
 BOTHWELL then accused Ella Watson of steeling cattle she had bought.
 BOTHWELL took Ella and Jim and HANGED them and then took their land too.
 Other killings of small homesteaders happened and soon these people formed their own group and
decided to ROUND UP CATTLE THEMSELVES without permission from the big ranchers.
Wealthy cattlemen showed they had not accepted this when they raised $1000,000 to kill 70 men who
were out on the round up and called them RUSTLERS.
The big ranchers used their Wyoming Stock Growers Association power to even hire 22 Texan gunmen and
pay them $5 per day and $50 for each rustler killed. They even supplied their own Union Pacific Railroad
train for the service.
IMPORTANCE: It was the first time that local people believed that the actions of the rich cattle ranchers by
killing so many of the smallholders was WRONG. This shows that attitudes had changed as previously this
type of VIGILANTE group would have been accepted and supported.
***Revision activity*** - create 5 questions on Billy the kid and the killing of Ella Watson and Jim Averill.
Then answer them
CONFLICT WITH THE PLAINS INDIANS:

RECAP – each time a tribe of Plains Indians had tried to negotiate and carry out an
agreement with the US Government, this had failed each time with the government
breaking its agreement.
The IMPORTANCE and CONSEQUENCES of
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The Battle of Little Big Horn 1876.

The US Army were DEFEATED BY THE Sioux Nation. The shock of the defeat meant the US Government
had to re-think its policy towards the Plains Indians. After the loss, the US Government believed that the
Plains Indians should ASSIMILATE OR DIE (Become like a white settler or be killed)
BASIC FACTS
1874
KEY PERSON US Army Commander George Custer led an expedition to protect rail
workers from the Plains Indians.
CAUSE OF THE TENSION  Northern Pacific Railroad was coming towards Sioux hunting grounds.
 Commander George Custer also looked for gold in the Black Hills.
 This attracted 1000s of prospectors to come into this land which went
against the Fort Laramie Treaty
SHORT TERM CAUSES  The Sioux rejected a government attempt to buy the Black Hills for $6
OF WAR million and carried on attacking the white settlers there.
 1000s of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors left their own reservations to join
the Sioux leaders.
 The US Government and President Grant told them to return to their
own reservation in 60 days.
 Deep snow made it impossible to the Sioux to return and were still there
in the Spring where they had set up camps.
SIOUX LEADERS Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull
FAMOUS QUOTE Sitting Bull ‘The whites want a war and we will give it to them’.
JUNE 1876 THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN
US ARMY ACTION Wanted to force the Sioux back but Custer’s men found a camp of 2,000
warriors in the valley of the Little Bighorn. He only had 600 soldiers and said
he would wait for more men.
CUSTER’S ACTIONS He led 200 men into the Little Bighorn Valley where he was spotted by 2
Indian scouts.
SITTING BULL’S ACTIONS Led women and children of the Plains Indians to safety
CRAZY HORSE Led and attack on Custer and his men.
OUTCOME Custer and all his 200 men were killed.
The CONSEQUENCES of the battle:
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 The events of the battle CHANGED PUBLIC OPINION of Plains Indians. Rather than being seen as WEAK
SAVAGES they were now seen as a REAL THREAT.
 The STRENGTH of the Plains Indians actually made people question the power of the MANIFEST DESTINY
and whether whites were superior to the Plains Indians.
 The was huge PRESSURE on the government to remove the Plains Indians in the most aggressive way they
could.
 The consequences on the Indians way of life had even more of an impact:
1) Plains Indians had to be kept on their reservations where they would have to depend on the US
government for food and supplies.
2) Previous Treaties could be ignored by the US Government and so they decided to move the Sioux
onto even smaller areas of land. For example, the Sioux were forced to move away from the Black
Hills or they would not get any food and starve.
3) The Sioux had to live under Military Rule and their weapons were taken.
4) The number of forts and soldiers for the US Army increased.
5) In 1877 CRAZY HORSE surrendered to the US Army and he was killed.
*** Revision activity***
Explain two consequences of the Battle of the Little Bighorn (1876) (8)
Explain the importance of the Battle of the Little Bighorn for the attitudes towards the Plains Indians [8]
The Wounded Knee Massacre (1890)

BASIC FACTS 1890
CAUSE OF TENSION US Government cut Sioux RATIONS (food amounts)
DROUGHT in the summer of 1890 – failure of crops.
THE GHOST DANCE  The Indian belief that if the Plains Indians rejected the white ways of life and
danced a SACRED DANCE, it would bring all the dead Indians back to life and a
great flood would carry the white people away.
 Many reservations soon heard of this and started to hold a GHOST DANCE.
GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT HARRISON ordered the army into the reservations to TAKE CONTROL and
REACTION SITTING BULL was KILLED in an attempt to arrest him. The army believed he was about
to start a rebellion.
PLAINS INDIAN Sitting Bull’s followers met with other reservations and travelled to WOUNDED KNEE
REACTION 1890 CREEK.
WHAT HAPPENED A Sioux warrior resisted arrest and began a Ghost Dance. In the confusion a shot was
THERE? fired and in 10 minutes 250 men, women and children had been killed.
IMPORTANCE This was the last clash between the US Army and the Sioux
CONSEQUENCES  Public reaction was POSITIVE and people were relieved the idea of the Ghost dance
was over.
 It proved that the white settlers still believed that the Plains Indians should be killed.
 It showed the belief that both sides had of the supernatural Ghost Dance working.
 In 1890, the US Government announced that the Indian Frontier had ended and
there was no land now which truly belonged to the Plains Indians.
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PLAINS INDIANS WAY OF LIFE
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THE IMPACT OF THE HUNTING AND EXTERMINATION OF THE BUFFALO ON THE PLAINS INDIANS WAY OF
LIFE.
FACT: By 1883 over 25 million buffalo had been killed.
FACT: The Government could have stopped buffalo hunting but
they carried on with encouraging their slaughter instead.
FACT: White buffalo hunters killed over 4 ½ million buffalo for their
skin only. Plains Indians would only kill 1 million and use every part
of the animal.
Reasons for the slaughter:
 INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: Buffalo hide could now be

quickly made into leather for clothing in the industrial cities. There was huge demand and people
rushed to kill as many as they could.
 TRANSPORT: The railroads were the one way the buffalo hides could be brought into the cities so
more could be transported at once.
 WEAPONS: A powerful rifle could be used to kill the buffalo easily.
 WASTE: Many hunters killed more than they needed and left the animal without taking the hide.
Only the skin was used, the rest of the animal was left to rot.
The NEGATIVE Consequences of buffalo extermination for the Plains Indians
1. As long as there were buffalo, the Plains Indians would resist going onto reservations.
2. Buffalo hunting rights for the Plains IndianS ended once the buffalo had gone so these rights were
lost forever.
3. Without their main food source, the Plains Indians needed to learn how to farm, work with the
white settlers and ASSIMILATE to be like the whites. They were made to be less independent.
4. They had to rely on the food given to them by the Government so the government had the power
to order the Plains Indians to do anything or else they would starve.
5. Lost their traditional skills and many had to learn to farm or became cattle ranchers.
6. The Plains Indians were given less food by the government which then affected their health –more
caught diseases like flu and died.
POSITIVE Consequences for the Government and white settlers:
1. Areas without buffalo made railroad building easier.
2. Without the buffalo, cattle ranching could become even bigger.
Create a memory map to show the different reasons for the destruction of the Plains Indians’ way of life:
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P a g e | 52
The
destruction of
the buffalo
Reasons for the The role of

destruction of the the US
The role of government
the hunters Plains Indians’
way of life
Life on the
reservation
OTHER CONSEQUENCES FOR THE PLAINS INDIANS
 Smaller reservations – Plains Indians like the Sioux had to agree to smaller reservation land or else
their food supply would be reduced further.
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P a g e | 53
 Power of the Tribal Chiefs – The US Government no longer talked with Tribal Chiefs but set up their
own special councils who could be EASILY BRIBED or THREATENED. The Plains Indians had lost
their right to govern themselves.
 Government agents – were responsible for the amount of food a tribe were given. They
encouraged some Indians to take on these roles and by looking after them with food and clothing.
This made ASSIMILATION seem a positive thing.
 Education – Plains Indian boys and girls were sent to school outside the reservation. If parents
refused this their food would be reduced. The children learned under military conditions. Had to
speak English or else they were punished. 117 Plains Indian bording schools by 1887.
 Religion – Children brought up as Christian in school and were punished if they held any traditional
cerimonies or had sacred items with them.
 Living Conditions – A NOMADIC life was no longer allowed. Not able to feed, clothe or shelter
themselves without government help.
 Agriculture – Farming was now essential but was never a traditional part of Plains Indian life.
THE FINAL GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE PLAINS INDIANS:
THE Dawes Act 1887

1. Each Plains Indian family was
given 160 acre plot on
reservation land.
2. Plains Indians who took up the
offer and also left the
reservation land could become
American citizens.
3. The remaining land in the
reservations could be sold off
to white settlers.
The importance of the Dawes Act

 Produced even more land for white settlers
 Plains Indians lost half the land they had.
 Plains Indians that bought land could not make a living as the land was too poor.
 The Indian Frontier was closed in 1890.
 There were now enough people in these old reservation lands to make new states
such as Dakota, South Dakota, Mantanna and Wyomming.
Create a knowledge organiser to show all the consequences of the Plains Indians destruction of their way of life:
Page | 53
P a g e | 54
Complete the table to show the key features of the Dawes Plan and its importance:
Dawes Plan
What was it?
Importance of the plan:
What I still need to revise in Part 3 – The changes in farming, the cattle industry and settlement
Page | 54

Year 11 American West

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The American West Revision Guide

REVISION GUIDE PAGE NUMBERS

CHAPTER 2: MIGRATION AND EARLY SETTLEMENT

CHAPTER 3: EARLY CONFLICT AND TENSION BETWEEN THE SETTLERS AND

CHAPTER 4: HOW THE SETTLEMENT OF THE WEST DEVELOPEDND

CHAPTER 5: RANCHING AND THE CATTLE INDUSTRY

CHAPTER 7: CHANGES IN FARMING, THE CATTLE INDUSTRY AND SETTLEMENT

The ‘Exoduster’ migration (Black American migration to the West)43-44

CHAPTER 8: FURTHER CONFLICT AND TENSION

The importance of the Johnson County War (1892)47

CHAPTER 9: PLAINS INDIANS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THEIR WAY OF LIFE

How the traditional way of life ended for Plains Indians50-52

Confident Need to Not

How were the Plains Indians organised?

What were the Great Plains like?

How did the Plains Indians survive?

Why was the buffalo and horse so important to their survival?

What was their belief about land and nature?

What was their attitude to land property and war?

What was the US government’s policy towards the Plains Indians

The failure of the Donner Party to migrate West in 1846

The success of the Mormon migration in 1847

Problems with setting up farming in the West

Early Conflict &

The importance and consequences of the Fort Laramie Treaty

The impact of new inventions on farming the Great Plains

The consequences of the railroads on law and order

The importance of Joseph McCoy and Abilene 1867

The consequences of the changes from cattle drives to cattle

Changes in the Way

The ‘Exoduster’ migration (Black American migration to the

Further Conflict and

The killing of Ella Watson and John Avril

The importance and consequences of the Battle of Little Bighorn

Plains Indians and

The final importance of the Dawes Act to end Plains Indian

How to answer the questions:

Narrative Question Consequence Question Importance Question

PART ONE – THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE WEST 1835-62

The Native American Indians lived on the Great

How were the Plains Indians organised?

What were the Great Plains like?

 Very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer.

How did the Plains Indians survive on the Great Plains?

Why was the horse IMPORTANT to the Plains Indians?

(think what would have happened without them)

What did Plains Indians believe about nature and land?

What did they believe about land and property?

What was their attitude to war?

Land and nature War

Plains Indians beliefs

US GOVERNMENT POLICIES TOWARDS THE PLAINS INDIANS’ LAND

2. 1834 INDIAN TRADE AND INTERCOURSE ACT - Indian

3. 1834 THE PERMANENT INDIAN FRONTIER (a BORDER

***Revision activity*** Plan the answer to following exam question:

 The Indian Removal Act 1830

Why did white settlers want to migrate west?

THESE REASONS CAN BE DIVIDED INTO PUSH AND PULL FACTORS.

Highlight the push factors in one colour

WHAT WERE THE PROBLEMS OF MIGRATING WEST?

THE MAIN PROBLEMS:

EXAMPLE OF WESTWARD MIGRATION FAILURE – THE DONNER PARTY 1846

Events Mistakes Consequences

Revision activity Plan the answer to following exam question:

Revision activity: complete the following knowledge organiser on: