US History › Section I · The West and big business › Topic I.2
Homesteading, mining, and cattle
Most newcomers to the West hoped to farm, while a smaller number chased gold or drove cattle. All three ways of life began with individual dreams and ended, by about 1900, dominated by capital, railways and distant markets.
In this topic
- Three ways to make a living
- Farming a semi-arid land
- New tools and bigger farms
- Worked example: the farmer's price trap
- Women on the homestead
- Mining rushes after California
- Life in the mines
- The cattle kingdom
- Worked example: why the open range ended
- Range wars: myth and reality
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
This topic is part of Wuanberri Pro. Checking your access…