Westward Expansion: Economic Development [APUSH Review Unit 6 Topic 2] Period 6: 1865-1898

Summary

This video from Heimler's History dives into Unit 6 of the AP U.S. History curriculum, focusing on the period from 1865 to 1898, particularly the economic aspects of westward expansion. It discusses the mechanization of agriculture, leading to increased crop production but also the decline of small farms due to competition from larger, industrialized farms. The video explains how this resulted in falling crop prices, impacting farmers' livelihoods. Additionally, it covers the rise of the National Grange Movement and the Granger Laws, which aimed to protect farmers from railroad monopolies and corporate abuses. The script also explores the role of railroads in facilitating westward migration and the impact of the Homestead Act, which granted settlers free land in the West. Lastly, it touches on the discovery of precious metals like gold and silver, which spurred further westward migration and the creation of diverse boomtowns.

Takeaways

• 📈 The period from 1877 to 1898 saw significant economic changes in the American West, largely due to the mechanization of agriculture.
• 🚜 Mechanized farming with machinery like mechanical reapers and combine harvesters led to increased crop production but also to the obsolescence of small farmers.
• 📉 The increased crop supply led to a decrease in crop prices, exacerbating the financial struggles of small farmers who couldn't compete with larger, industrialized operations.
• 🛒 High prices for manufactured goods due to industrial trusts put additional financial strain on farmers who relied on buying these goods.
• 🚂 Farmers faced challenges with railroads, which charged high prices for transporting their crops to market, leading to economic hardship.
• 💪 The National Grange Movement emerged as an organized effort by farmers to resist these economic pressures and advocate for their interests.
• 🏛 The Granger Laws, including the Commerce Act of 1886, were enacted to regulate railroad rates and prohibit abusive corporate practices against farmers.
• 🛤️ The federal government encouraged westward expansion through the Pacific Railroad Acts, which provided land grants to railroad companies to build transcontinental railroads.
• 🏡 The Homestead Act of 1862 offered free land to settlers who agreed to farm and settle the land, although the amount of land was insufficient for many to sustain a livelihood.
• 🌟 The discovery and extraction of precious metals like gold and silver spurred westward migration, leading to the establishment of boomtowns and diverse communities.
• 📚 Understanding these economic and social changes is crucial for students studying the AP U.S. History curriculum, particularly for Unit 6.

Q & A

What time period does Unit 6 of the AP U.S. History curriculum cover?

Unit 6 covers the time period from 1865 to 1898.

What was the primary focus of the economic changes in the agricultural west during this period?

The primary focus was the mechanization of agriculture, with machines like the mechanical reaper and combine harvester replacing manual labor.

How did the mechanization of agriculture affect the production of crops?

Mechanization allowed farmers to plant and harvest significantly more crops, roughly doubling the production of corn and wheat between 1870 and 1900.

What was the impact of mechanization on small farmers?

Small farmers could not compete in the market with larger, industrial farmers due to their inability to afford the new machinery, leading to the obsolescence and eventual closure of many small farms.

How did the increase in crop supply affect market prices?

The law of supply and demand caused prices per bushel of crops like corn and wheat to decline, further pressuring small farmers who struggled to sell their crops at such low prices.

What was the National Grange Movement and what did it aim to achieve?

The National Grange Movement, organized in 1868, aimed to bring isolated farmers together for socialization and education. It later became political, pushing for laws to regulate railroad rates and make abusive corporate practices illegal.

What was the Commerce Act of 1886 and what was its purpose?

The Commerce Act of 1886 required railroad rates to be reasonable and just. It established the Interstate Commerce Commission, a federal agency to enforce these requirements.

How did the federal government facilitate westward migration?

The federal government facilitated westward migration through the Pacific Railroads Acts, which granted land to railroad companies to build transcontinental railroads, and the Homestead Act of 1862, which offered 160 acres of free land to settlers on the condition they would farm and settle it.

What was the impact of the Homestead Act on small farmers?

While the Homestead Act aimed to encourage westward migration and settlement, many small farmers struggled due to the mechanization of agriculture and the insufficient size of the granted land to sustain a livelihood, leading to many farms going bust.

Why did the discovery and extraction of precious metals contribute to westward migration?

The discovery and extraction of precious metals like gold and silver, such as during the California Gold Rush and the discovery at Pike’s Peak, attracted people to move west in hopes of striking it rich, leading to the formation of boomtowns and increased diversity in the west.

How did the railroads and the Homestead Act work together to encourage westward expansion?

The railroads, facilitated by the Pacific Railroads Acts, provided an efficient means of transportation to the west, while the Homestead Act provided an incentive for people to settle there by offering free land, thus encouraging westward expansion.

What was the significance of the Interstate Commerce Commission in relation to the railroads?

The Interstate Commerce Commission was a federal agency established by the Commerce Act of 1886 to enforce reasonable and just railroad rates for carrying freight, addressing the issues faced by farmers who were charged high prices for shipping their crops.