The New South and the Old West: 1866-1890 (Discovering U.S. History)

The end of the Civil War brought significant change to the United States. The war had destroyed the South, ushering in an age of rebuilding that created a new South free from slavery and open to progress and industrialization. But much of the promise of the post-war South was lost in the political heat of Reconstruction. At the same time, more people began to migrate to the Old West. But just as Reconstruction and its aftermath ultimately failed to lift newly freed blacks out from under white racism, so the settling of the West left thousands of Indians dispossessed and defeated. The New South and the Old West: 1866-1890 takes readers on a journey through the efforts to reconstruct the ravaged South and the push to create new life in the promising land to the west of the Mississippi. Discovering U.S. History spans the complex and dramatic history of the United States from prehistoric times to the present day. Through a compelling narrative, thought-provoking boxed insets, and lively illustrations, each volume brings to life the people and events that have shaped the nation. Chelsea House Contents 6 Introduction Red Cloud’s War 8 Rebuilding the South 18 A Mixed Record 33 The Age of Jim Crow 48 Mining the West 59 Cattle and Cowboys 73 The Homesteaders 90 The End of the Indian 105 Chronology 121 Glossary 125 Bibliography 129 Further Resources 131 Picture Credits 133 Index 134 About the Author 137 9781604133547 The end of the Civil War in 1865 brought significant change to the United States. The war had destroyed the physical fabric of the South, ushering in an age of reform and rebuilding that;would create a new South free from slave Examines the history of the United States following the end of the Civil War, focusing on the Reconstruction and increased migration westward.