Ch 5.3
SECTION 3 Life in the West
- To describe the challenges and opportunities for women in the West
- To analyze the reasons for the growth of western cities
- To explain how Mexicans were affected by American settlement
- To identify myths about the West
Chapter 5 – Section 3
Different groups of settlers helped to shape the West.
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Women in the West (p. 166-167)
- Women worked on the homestead - land and the house on it.
- Women were teachers, domestic servants, sheriffs, gamblers, and even outlaws.
- Women in the West could own property, control their own money.
- Women in Wyoming could even vote (1869)
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The Rise of Western Cities (p. 167- 168)
- Gold and silver strikes turned small towns into booming cities.
- San Francisco, California, gold rush of 1849 resulted in it changing from a small town to a city of 25,000 in one year.
- Denver, Colorado, wasn't even a town until 1857 and within 10 years became the capital of Colorado Territory.
- Omaha, Nebraska, became a great meat-processing center for cattle ranchers
- Portland, Oregon, was the regional market for fish, grain, and lumber.
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Mexicanos in the Southwest (p. 168)
- Mexicanos - people living in the Southwest of Spanish descent whose ancestors/relatives came from Mexico
- 1840's - United States began to have control in the Southwest because Mexico was defeated in the Mexican War and because of the annexation of Texas (attach to something larger).
- Now Anglos (English-speaking white settlers) moved to the Southwest looking for opportunities in ranching, farming, and mining.
- Mexicanos lost economic power, political power, and their land.
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The Myth of the Old West (p.168-169)
- Myth – a false belief, story, or idea.
- Romantic myth of the West – place where brave men and women lived. White pioneers viewed as heroes. Native Americans portrayed as villains. African Americans not even mentioned.
- William “Buffalo Bill” Cody – buffalo hunter turned businessman performed in a Wild West show that highlighted some parts of western life.
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The Real West (page 169)
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Many people helped to settle the West
- Mexican Vaqueros – taught Americans ranching skills
- Native Americans and African Americans helped with cattle ranching too.
- African Americans served in the U.S. Army in the West and were called “buffalo soldiers”.
- Chinese immigrants helped build the western railroads.
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The U.S. government helped the settlers
- Removed Native Americans from the land and moved them to reservations.
- Government financed the building of railroads.
- Gave away free land to the settlers in the West.
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Many people helped to settle the West