Chapter 16Reconstruction: An Unfinished Revolution, 1865–1877.

Chapter 16

Reconstruction:Reconstruction:An Unfinished Revolution, An Unfinished Revolution,

1865–18771865–1877

Reconstruction Rapid spread of terrorist organization,

KKK Planters organize KKK units. Their main

purpose was to: Weaken the Republican coalition so that a

Democratic majority could return to power Deathblow to Reconstruction in South:

attack Rep. leaders (white and black) harassment, beatings, rape, arson, murder

Biggest mistake of Republicans in DC and South = no land redistribution

Retreat from Reconstruction

North lose interest (1870s) More interest in suppressing rebellion than

helping blacks Democrats:

“redeem” southern governments by KKK violence

grow stronger in North Congress pass KKK laws; not enforced Northerners reject:

US government protect civil rights

Retreat from Reconstruction The Supreme Court is inactive after Dred

Scott case and during the war Reassert itself, post-1865 as a participant

in the northern retreat from Reconstruction Slaughter-House (1873) deny that 14th

makes USG protector of civil rights: narrow 14th by stress state power

Bradwell (1873) reject claim that 14th ban gender discrimination

Later uphold restrictions on suffrage

Chapter 17

The Development of The Development of The West, 1877–1900The West, 1877–1900

Ch. 17: Development of the West, 1877–1900

Rapid white settlement displace Indians Indians/whites use environment differently:

subsistence vs. exploitation/profit West’s resources vital for industrialization:

many human and environmental costs To whites, area “west” of MS River = land

of economic opportunity and material success: racism also shape actions

Fig. 17-CO, p. 456

p. 458

I. Native American Subsistence Cultures

Shape environment long before 1800s Very different groups 4 main activities:

1) crops (corn) 2) livestock (sheep/horses) 3) fishing/hunting (bison) 4) trading/raiding

I. Native American Subsistence Cultures (cont.)

Extensive interaction of goods/ideas: migrating bands and trade/raid fight over herds/land/water

Plains Indians (Pawnees): depend on buffalo alter environment to support horses

Southwest Indians (Navajos): focus on sheep herding

p. 460

I. Native American Subsistence Cultures (cont.)

Northwest Indians (Clatsops): fish salmon extensively with technology like others, engage in trade

Native economies undermined by: loss of land to whites salmon/buffalo decline

White-owned fisheries over-harvest salmon

Dams interfere with salmon reproduction

II. Dramatic Buffalo Decline

Whites (with Army help) kill many for: railroads farming

Accelerate decline that start with: over-hunting by Indians for trade with whites diseases from white-owned livestock less grazing area

1820: 25 million bison 1880: less than 1,000

III. Transformation of Native Cultures

Extensive white violence against Indians Young white men:

= majority of western whites view Indians with contempt

Both commit atrocities Native American population decline:

disease (including STDs) less mobile with women/ children adopt bad habits (alcohol, prostitution)

p. 461

IV. Lack of Native Unity; Territorial Treaties

Divisions: 200 spoken languages 100s of separate bands

No tribal centralization Chiefs weak Wars and raids between bands block unity US government hurt Indians by:

imposing treaties (loss of land) by force refusing to protect Indian land/rights in treaties from

whites

V. Reservation Policy

US government: confine Indians to least desirable lands promise aid

Indians less independent economically Reservations weaken Indians politically Supreme Court define Native Americans

as non-citizen wards Constantly face white encroachment

VI. Native Resistance; Indian Wars

Some resist trade Others fight White response:

Navajo “Long Walk” (1863–64) destroy Cheyenne band (1864)

Little Big Horn (1876): Lakotas/Cheyennes defeat Custer

White advantages: more supplies (often starve Indians) pursue Indians relentlessly

p. 463

VII. Reform of Indian Policy (1870s–80s)

Reformers try to “civilize” Indians: goal = assimilation

Few Indians in Indian Rights Association IRA assume Indian ways (gender) inferior Dawes Severalty Act (1887):

privatize communal lands reverse reservation policy Indians with private property become citizens whites buy unallocated land

VII. Reform of Indian Policy (cont.)

Boarding schools (Carlisle in PA): teach children white culture

Zitkala-Sa use ed to advocate rights: translate Sioux stories to preserve traditions

US government still use force: massacre Lakotas (Wounded Knee, SD--

1890) crush Ghost Dance (revival of traditions)

VIII. The Losing of the West

Under Dawes Act, Indian landholding dramatically decline: whites cheat Indians into selling land accelerate economic ruin

Schools demoralize children: not accepted by either Indians or whites

West won at Indian expense: still casualties of aggressive era

IX. Mining and Lumbering

Unlike Indians, whites motivated by: quest for rapid wealth

1000s move (mid-1800s) to mine: gold/silver/metals (Map 17.1) search as individuals then sell to large companies

Lumber companies use fraud to grab millions of acres (Northwest)

Oil drilling start (Southwest)

Map 17-1, p. 467

X. Complex Communities

West = multiracial: whites, Indians Hispanics, Asians, African Americans

NM: Indians and Hispanics mix (mestizo) 200,000 Chinese immigrate, pre-1882 All-black towns (Nicodemus, KS) White women = minority:

travel west with husband little independence make money via domestic services

p. 468

XI. Significance of Race

For control: classify nonwhites as Indian, Mexican,

Mongolian, or black assume nonwhite “inferiority” permanent create 2-tier labor system nonwhites work unskilled/low-pay jobs whites often take nonwhite property ban marriage between nonwhite men/white

woman Race is a distinguishing social characteristic

p. 469

XII. Conservation (1870s); Admission of New States

Preserve resources by limiting exploitation Yellowstone, WY = first national park

(1872) Muir found Sierra Club (1892) Business and westerners oppose:

both seek quick profit Map 17.2:

admit many states, 1889-1912 USA = 48 states until 1959

Map 17-2, p. 470

XIII. Legends of West

To easterners, West = lawless hedonism: Tombstone, AZ

Some become folk heroes: Clantons vs. Earps, OK Corral, 1881

Novelists and self-promoters (Buffalo Bill): romanticize life in “Wild West”

Most westerners: not gunfighters or gamblers struggle to get by

XIV. Irrigation

Public and private interests use: technology organization for commercial agriculture

Irrigation already exist: southwestern Indians, Spanish, Mormons

Whites in West reject English riparianism: users not diminish flow downstream

Adopt prior appropriation: water rights to whoever claims it first

XIV. Irrigation (cont.)

because of conflicts, whites create public bodies to regulate usage: WY, 1890 CA organize irrigation districts

CA: leader in irrigation most profitable fruit/vegetable farms in USA

Newlands Reclamation Act (1902): promote irrigation not conservation

p. 471

XV. Railroad Construction

⅓ of world’s rail track (1900) Diverse labor crews:

Chinese build east from CA Irish build westward

Spur steel, coal, and other industries Create new cities:

link to national/global economy (goods/ people)

Huge subsidies spur construction: USG give 180 million acres

XV. Railroad Construction (cont.)

Land for track + extra to sell: fund construction

States add 50 million acres Towns buy rail stock/bonds; offer loans As private companies:

railroads want aid fight regulation

Many towns boom from railroads Others lose (stock failures, loan defaults)

XVI. Standard Gauge;Standard Time

Link railroads together (1880s) Alter concepts of time and space Measure distance in travel time, not miles Earlier, time vary from place to place Railroads need standardization:

create 4 time zones (1883) become national time

Spur engineering profession

p. 474

XVII. Farming the Plains(1870s–’80s)

Commercial agriculture: require adaptations to climate and terrain

100s of 1000s of whites migrate Railroads promise instant riches Global population growth create demand Farm life on Plains very difficult:

hard work essentials (water, fuel) scarce

Map 17.3: rainfall divide settlement

Map 17-3, p. 476

XVIII. Hardship on the Plains

Weather (heat, storms, blizzards, floods, prairie fires) and insects

Homestead Act (1862): disperse settlement = social isolation

Also lonely because many bachelors: many abandon farms for cities

Mail-order and RFD reduce isolation some

p. 477

XIX. Mechanization of Agriculture

Vital to agricultural revolution Increase production with less time and

labor: farms feed cities cities supply machines railroads = link

governments fund research: stronger, productive crops combat disease

p. 478

Table 17-1, p. 479

XX. The Ranching Frontier

Cattle ranching mushroom, post-1860s Population growth create demand Railroads allow bulk transport:

drive cattle 1,000+ miles from TX to rail link inefficient raise herds near rail links

Open-range ranching on Plains with massive use of government lands

Table 17.1 on USG and West

p. 480

XXI. Barbed Wire

Ranching conflict with farms and sheep herds Little materials for traditional fences Barbed wire solve conflict:

reflect links between West/East and rural/urban accelerate farming on Plains

Ranching and meatpacking = big business same with mining and agriculture

Often negative on environment

p. 481

Summary: Discuss Links to the World and Legacy

US West and Australia as frontier societies?

Parallels: mining, male folk heroes Bias and violence to nonwhites:

Chinese Aborigines

National parks as legacy? Spread from West to East? Problems from success? Preservation vs. development debate?

p. 465

p. 465

p. 473