What problems did westward expansion cause during the Gilded Age?
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Entry 1 Westward expansion became crucial in the development of America after the Civil War. A majority of the settlers wanted to move west in an effort to find new rich fertile farmland. The soil the settlers had left behind had been overworked and was now thin, loose and without vital nutrients. Due to this thin soil, their crops suffered. Many settlers simply wanted to buy farmland other than in the east were land was being sold at a premium. Other settlers were immigrants and wanted to start a new life in the West (Many of these immigrants were artisans and craftsman by trade and introduced new ideas and techniques into society). How was this expansion made possible? Expansion had been possible by many factors; to include an abundance …show more content…
Some to the most substantial businessmen of the Gilded Age were John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, JP Morgan, Cornelius Vanderbilt and many others. These businessmen were highly criticized by many who stated that their vast fortunes were created from the backs of the working class. But, others argued that without these businessmen, there wouldn’t have been the great acts of philanthropy which was used to support libraries, hospitals, colleges and many charities. The previous chapters have shown that these leaders were greatly influenced by social Darwinism, which justified capitalism, ruthless competition and social stratification. What industries saw innovation during the Gilded Age? The Gilded Age brought vast opportunities for people to build on. With innovation in rail systems, we now had a national network of transportation to transport goods, and the telegraph enabled communication with other parts of America. This created new markets that facilitated a national market for consumer goods. With this increase, came mass production, mass consumption and the title of world power. There is no doubt that these innovations, greatly altered American life and society in every …show more content… As World War 1 ended, Americans were full of enthusiasm and optimism and with technological advances such as the airplane and advancement in communication capabilities, anything seemed possible. Morals of the 19th century seemed to be put on hold as flappers became to define of the new woman. With so many people optimistic about the outlook of the nations, many of them were urged to place their savings in the stock market. Although the stock market has the reputation of being a risky investment, it did not appear that way in the 1920s. With the mood of the country exuberant, the stock market seemed an infallible investment in the future. Interest in the stock market skyrocketed and stocks were talked about by everyone and glamorous stories of common people making millions with stocks only added fuel to this soon to explode rocket. Confidence in what seem to be a never-ending rise in stock prices was so high, that buyers neglected to consider the risks involved. Eventually, signs started to appear that the economy was headed for a serious downfall. This was supported by a slowdown in steel production, a slowdown in new home construction and other signs that things were waning. Many people started warning of an impending crash, but they were mostly ignored. The stock market continued to surge and seemed to hit a plateau. In late October 0f 1929, stocks started to drop and vast The first people to live in what we now call Iowa may have arrived some 8,000-10,000 years ago. They lived along the edges of the receding glaciers and hunted large game animals. Gradually, groups began to plant and harvest gardens of corn, beans, pumpkins and squash and gather nuts, berries and fruits to supplement their meat supply. By around 1,200 C.E., corn had migrated along the Gulf Coast and up the Mississippi to tribes in the Upper Midwest who became known as the Oneota culture. They established villages to which they returned for many years after seasonal deer and buffalo hunts. Show
European ArrivalThe arrival of Europeans on the continent had an impact on the Midwest long before permanent settlers came. French and English colonies along the Atlantic Coast displaced eastern American Indian tribes who were forced west to compete with existing tribes. The earliest French and English these tribes encountered were not settlers competing for lands fur trappers and traders. They brought with them manufactured goods — blankets, cookware, knives, guns — to exchange for beaver, deer and other skins that sold for high prices in Europe. Internal competition among both American Indians and European sides of the trading partnership led to conflicts. As the French and English battled for control the Atlantic Coast and Canada, they made allegiances with tribes. The French clashed with the Meskwaki (sometimes mistakenly called the Fox) and their Sac allies who were forced south from their homelands in Wisconsin and Michigan into eastern Iowa. These tribes became allies of the British against the French and later against the former British colonists, the Americans. The other major tribe as American settlement began to put direct pressure Iowa lands in the 19th C. were the Sioux across the northern regions of future Iowa. The Sioux were the last to relocate out of the state in 1851. Conflict and Consequences of "Western Expansion"From the earliest days of European settlement on the Atlantic Coast, pioneers began moving west not just to trade but to live and raise families. This is known as Westward Expansion. Of course, American Indians were already occupying those western lands, setting up conflict situations. In 1832, when the U.S. government tried to enforce the terms of a treaty that demanded removal of the Sac from their major village Saukenuk on the Illinois side of the river. Chief Black Hawk resisted and returned in the spring with a portion of the tribe in defiance of the government order. In the Black Hawk “War” that ensued, U.S. troops and the Illinois state militia quickly routed Indian resistance and forced Sac families to flee. The treaty that followed opened eastern Iowa to American settlement and pushed the Sac and their Meskwaki allies into central Iowa. Treaties between the tribes and the U.S. government eventually provided for relocation of the tribes to western lands and the removal of Indian claim to the land. Iowa has no Indian reservations, land owned by the U.S. government but occupied by recognized Indian tribes. In the 1850s, Meskwaki tribal members pooled their government annuity payments and, with the consent of the state government, purchased land in Tama County that became known as the Meskwaki Settlement. The tribe, not the government, owns the land. Many members of the tribe began to return to Iowa where they have lived ever since. The modern Meskwaki Settlement in Tama County maintains tribal schools, courts, and police and a public works department. Their annual powwow attracts thousands every year who watch traditional dances and learn about Meskwaki history and culture. Because they are not subject to state laws, the tribe opened a very successful casino that has brought a new prosperity to the Meskwaki. Sioux City is home to another sizable group of American Indians who sponsor a day care that promotes community activities and services to members of several tribes in the area. American Indians have a significant story in Iowa history and are a vibrant part of the Iowa of today. Supporting QuestionsWhat was Westward Expansion?
Who are American Indians? Who are the Meskwaki?
What happens when cultures collide?
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