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

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In this video Heimler takes you through Unit 6 Topic 2 of the AP U.S. History curriculum which is set in period 6 (1865-1898).

This period begins after the close of the Civil War, and in this video we'll look at how westward expansion continued in this time period. Because of the increasing consolidation of the agricultural markets into the hands of a few, large corporations, and the fact that agriculture was becoming increasingly mechanized, many farmers moved west in hopes of scratching out a living.

They were aided in this endeavor by the completion of several transcontinental railroads and federal legislation in the form of the Homestead Act.

If you have any questions, leave them below and Heimler shall answer forthwithly.

This video is aligned with the AP U.S. History Curriculum and Exam Description for Unit 6 Topic 2, and all the key concepts thereunto appertaining.

[toastiemarshmallow]

My notes:

Explain the causes and effects of the settlement of the west 1877-1898
- Mechanization
○ Farming was done more with machines than the human body
§ Mechanical reaper
§ Combine reaper
○ This meant farmers could plant and harvest more
○ Small farmers couldn’t compete with large farmers because they couldn’t buy these machines. Big farmers bought out little farms
○ Wheat and corn sold for much lower
- Industrial trusts made sure prices were high on manufactured goods
○ Farmers were having trouble paying for them
- Railroad problems
○ Farmers relied on shipping for sales, but railroads had extremely high shipping rates
- National Grange Movement
○ Brought farmers together to push western states to regulate railroads
○ Granger Laws, Commerce Act - Railroad rates must be reasonable and just and interstate commerce commission would regulate this
- Moving west was hard to do, but the government saw the potential in railroads.
- Pacific railroads act - federal government gave huge amounts of money to railroad companies to build rails
- Transcontinental railroad went to both coasts
- Homestead Act - granted potential migrants 160 acres of land west if they would farm and settle it
○ This was not nearly enough land for a farmer to make a living
- Extraction of metals
○ 1869 gold discovered in Pyke's Peak causes another gold rush
○ Boomtowns sprang up as a result of many migrants hoping to strike it rich
§ Ended up becoming extremely diverse.

[cosmicmoonman]

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[iluvcrocs]

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[flappythedragon_]

My notes:
Farming became medhanized which led to more product and less smaller farmers being bought out by bigger companies
•Crop prices began to deplete after mechanization
•farmers relied on railroads to transport their products so they jacked their prices
:•National grange movement-brought farmers together for social and education
:•granger laws-laws passed to protect farmers
:•Pacific Railroads Act- Land to railroad companies
•Transcontinental Railroads were built
:•Homestead Act- 160 acres for free to farm on the and out west and settle it
•gold and silver discoveries pushed further for westward expansion.

[andrewcurbelo]

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[cerberuscurious]

Watching the vid 10 minutes before my 98 question quiz over reconstruction and westward expansion 😍

[raptor]

I spent an hour and half on notes for 6.2. This 5 min video summed it all up. Thanks Heimler

[ethanmoyer]

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[Kladecast]

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[usmanshahzad]

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[Something-lnpi]

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