AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Western Economic Opportunities (Day 166/309)
Dec 18, 2023
Hey APUSHers, let’s chat about Western Economic Opportunities as part of my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!
Across the Continent Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way, Wikimedia Commons
After the Civil War, federal support for expansion fueled a mass migration of settlers to the west which spurred the development of new economic opportunities in mining, ranching, and farming.
Gold mining in Boren's Gulch. La Plata County, Colorado, Wikimedia Commons
The mining boom began with the discovery of gold in California in 1848. Additional gold and silver strikes in many western states stirred prospectors to move in in search of fortune.
Cattle herd and cowboy, Wikimedia Commons
In the late 19th century, many replicated the Mexican cattle industry in Texas and the Southwest. The “open range” allowed for the free grazing of herds until the construction of railroads and use of barbed wire ended the era of the long drives.
Combine Harvester, Wikimedia Commons
The climate and geography of the Great Plains made farming very challenging. Even with technological advancements, around ⅓ of homesteaders failed by 1900.
The construction of railroads and federal incentives coupled with new opportunities in mining, ranching, and farming provoked a significant demographic shift of the population westward.
Join me tomorrow as I explain the Development of Farming Cooperatives in the next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!
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