How did the Civil War affect the West?

Name: Problem 3, Chapter 14: American history: connecting with the past
Uploaded: 2023-10-10T19:34:37-08:00
Channel: Lauren Long
Description: How did the Civil War affect the West?

Key Concepts

Civil War as a Catalyst

The Civil War was not just a conflict between the North and South; it reshaped national priorities and expanded federal power. This reorientation influenced policies and investments that extended into the West, changing how territories were governed and developed after the conflict.

Westward Expansion

The drive to settle and expand into western territories was accelerated by the aftermath of the Civil War. New federal initiatives, such as land grants and infrastructure projects, encouraged migration and transformed vast regions into areas of economic opportunity and national development.

Economic and Industrial Development

Economic transformation following the war played a pivotal role in the West. The increased focus on industrialization led to significant investments in railroads and mining, which not only opened up isolated regions but also integrated the Western economy with the national market.

Native American Displacement

As federal policies promoted settlement in the West, conflicts between incoming settlers and Native American populations intensified. The war’s outcome indirectly contributed to the displacement and marginalization of many indigenous communities, as expansionist policies prioritized economic growth and territorial control.

Military and Political Changes

The post-war period saw a reimagined role for the military and federal government in managing western territories. Enhanced military presence was used to secure new settlements and enforce policies, leading to ongoing military engagements and reshaped political dynamics in the region.

Transcript

00:01 So the impact of the civil war on the west can be understood in several key ways.

00:06 Let's take a look at them.

00:07 First is going to be the economic impact.

00:15 I'm playing a major part in this is the railroad development.

00:22 So the civil war provided really a stimulus for the construction of the transcontinental railroads.

00:29 So the pacific railway acts of 1862 and 1864, they granted land and subsidies to provide companies to build the first transcontinental railroad.

00:39 So this infrastructure development facilitated westward expansion and increased connectivity between the east and the west.

00:50 We also had settlement and population growth.

01:01 So factors of this was homesteading.

01:05 So the homestead act of 1862, which was enacted during the civil war, it provided 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, which provided them or provided that they improve the land by building a dwelling and also cultivating crops.

01:23 So this encouraged westward migration and settlement.

01:27 Also, you had the mining and industry.

01:31 So the west experienced a major mining boom during and also after the civil war with the discovery of valuable resources like gold.

01:41 We know about the gold rush, silver and copper was included in that as well.

01:45 So this really led to the growth of mining towns and also the development of the mining industry.

01:52 Another effect was native american relations.

02:00 And specifically with migration to the west, you saw increased conflict.

02:07 So the westward expansion during and again after the civil war, this often led to increased conflict between settlers and the native american tribes as their traditional lands were really encroached upon.

02:19 So this resulted in a series of conflicts and wars such as the dakota wars of 1862.

02:26 And you also have the sand creek massacre of 1864...

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