The Statehood Era, Part II

Transcription

1 The Statehood Era, Part II

2 Industrialization Washington s population exploded between 1870 and : 23, : 357,232 Reason has little to do with transformations in Washington; it is about an economic revolution in the United States: Industrialization Industrialization = A transformation in the production of goods From goods made by hand, to those made by machines; mechanization Machines revolution consumption and economic activity Industrialization requires three things: 1.) Labor 2.) Raw Materials 3.) Markets Industrialization will result in a new economic entity: the factory Industrialization does not occur in Washington Territory But territory is a place of raw materials and emerging markets Biggest impact in Washington Territory: Railroads Railroads a symbol of industrialization in the United States Will transform Washington Territory

3 Transcontinental Railroads 1862: Railroad Act 1864: Railway Act 1863: Central Pacific Railroad begins construction 1865: Union Pacific Railroad begins construction 1869: Central and Union Pacific Railroads meet at Promontory Point, Utah (right) First transcontinental railroad in the United States finished Main beneficiary was California But Washington benefits as well Oregon Trail discontinued

4 Railroads in Washington Oregon Steam Navigation Company Founded in 1860 Mainly provided steam ship service on the Columbia River Owned small railroads along river to portage around rapids and waterfalls 1879: Purchased by Henry Villard Walla Walla and Columbia River Railroad Railroad company that operated in Western Idaho, Walla Walla, and the Columbia River Carried gold from Lewiston mines to Portland Also carried grain and supplies to miners in Lewiston Also carried agricultural products to Portland 1880: Purchased by Henry Villard

5 The Northern Pacific Railroad The key individual in the railroad saga in the Pacific Northwest was Henry Villard (right) Northern Pacific Railroad chartered in 1864; owned by Jay Cooke 1873: Bankrupt during the Panic of 1873 Henry Villard an immigrant to US Found investors and began buying up regional railroads 1880: Began consolidation; created Oregon Railway and Navigation Company 1881: Purchased Northern Pacific Railroad

6 Northern Pacific Railroad

7 Population Impact of the Railroads Railroads made journey to Washington possible in a couple of weeks This meant cheaper journey west; therefore population growth It also provided economic opportunity more markets for goods Economic and population growth evident in the demographic numbers Washington Territory Population: 1860: 11, : 23, : 73, : 357,239 With this population came a diverse population This is a period of intense immigration in the United States Washington participates in this 1/4 of all residents in Washington are foreign born or children of those foreign born by 1889 Groups come from Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Greece, Italy, Ireland Also, growth of the Chinese population

8 Racial and Ethnic Tensions Across the United States the presence of peoples from non-western European countries brought prejudice and discrimination Racial attitudes in the United States could be crude and bigoted Key Concepts: Social Darwinism; WASP In Washington Territory, the population to feel discrimination the most were the Chinese immigrants Chinese began coming to Washington Territory in large numbers during the 1870s Especially prevalent in the canning industry Work long hours in difficult conditions for low pay; exploited Discriminated against by white populations

9 The Campaign against the Chinese Pressure mounted both in Washington and nationally against the Chinese Social and economic tensions run high in the United States The Chinese were easy political targets; especially given racial attitudes 1882: Chinese Exclusion Act 1885: 3 Chinese workers killed in Issaquah Fall 1885: Chinese Anti-Congress of Seattle demands all Chinese leave by Nov immediately leave for Portland Feb 7, 1886: Washington Home Guard defends 350 Chinese families from mob; forced to board boat (pictured right) Majority of Chinese forced to leave Washington

10 The Dawes Act Indians faced renewed pressure during this period of economic growth Attempts were made to eradicate Indian culture Indian Schools formed 1887: Dawes Act passed Dawes Act about taking reservation land Indians given individual allotments of land Forbidden to sell Rest of land given to federal government; federal government could sell land Indian Schools + Dawes Act inaugurate new period in American Indian policy Allotment and Assimilation Force Native Americans off reservations; force them to become American; cultural eradication : Over 100 million acres of reservation land lost in the American West; Yakama, Colville, and Spokane hardest hit in WA

11 Economic Growth and Statehood Railroads enable all types of economic growth and new economic industries Agriculture: New markets made available; Beginning of irrigation farming; Desert Land Act of 1877; ranching declines Fishing: Growth of the canning industry; fresh fish market Mining: Emergence of coal industry; fuel railroads Timber: Explosion of mills; 310 saw mills in Puget Sound along The economic and population growth had a symbiotic effect; each fueled one another These two factors led to statehood Washington residents eager; long period as a territory Had wanted to form a constitution earlier; denied by Federal government October 1, 1889: Constitution written and approved November 11, 1889: Accepted by Congress; President Benjamin Harrison admits Washington as 42 nd state in the Union