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Discoveries of large amounts of gold and silver
the area surrounding Butte's present location remained uninhabited before gold was discovered in 1864 in Silver Bow Creek. Native Americans and explorers passed through the region, but found no attractions for permanent settlement until two prospectors detected placer deposits in the creek; they named the site the Missoula lode.Water was scarce, however, and the town began to decline; the 1870 census recorded only about 200 people. -
Homestead act of 1862
The homestead acts were several United States federal laws that gave an applicant ownership of land, At little or no cost. In the United States, this originally consisted of grants totaling 160 acres. -
Transcontinental Railroad System
A contiguous network of railroad tracks. They cross a continental landmass with terminals at different oceans or continental borders. They help transport people and items. -
Extinction of Buffalo in 1800's
as the population moved west people began to slaughter buffalo for skin trade. Buffalo slaughter was encouraged by the U.S. government to starve the native tribes. By 1890 buffalo population was down to only about 1800. Because of the us government there are almost 500,000 buffalo in america. -
Barbed Wire
Steel fencing wire, cunstructed with sharp edges. Points at end of strands of wire. It is used to keep animals or humans out of certain ares. It was issued in 1867 to Lucien B. Smith who was regarded as the inventor. Joseph F. Glidden made the modern invention in 1874. -
Jesse James
He was an american outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of missouri. He was really famous in the west after his death on april 3, 1882. -
wild west shows
William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody opened Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show on May 19, 1883.His partner that first season was a dentist and exhibition shooter, Dr. W.F. Carver. Cody and Carver took the show, subtitled “Rocky Mountain and Prairie Exhibition,” across the country to popular acclaim and favorable reviews, launching a genre of outdoor entertainment that thrived for three decades and survived, in fits and starts, for almost three more. -
Dawes Act of 1886
It was adopted by congress in 1887. It divided Indian and U.S. land. -
Cattle Drives
It was a major economic activity. 20 million cattle were herded from texas to kansas in shipments to stock yards. -
Growth of new towns and cities to support cattle, mining, and farming industry
New towns and cities were built in the west to support cattle, mining, and farming industries because the gold mines and silver mines were in the west which brought out many people who hoped to become rich. Cattle were now staying on ranches and needed a place to stay and room to move, but the land in the west had good soil to farm on and nobody was on living there now. Boom towns in the west created rapid population growth and made small towns into big cities.
