Summary
Highlights
After the Civil War, Americans moved westward, encountering harsh conditions. This final frontier, unlike previous ones, featured diverse and often inhospitable landscapes such as the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, and deserts. It challenged settlers and was settled differently than earlier frontiers.
The mining frontier, spanning from the 1860s to the 1880s, was primarily centered in mountainous regions where gold was discovered in stream beds. These miners were the trailblazers, sparking interest in the West and leading to the formation of towns, some of which became cities like Denver and Salt Lake City.
Initially, individual panners sought gold flakes in riverbeds. They were followed by placer miners, who worked in larger groups, diverting rivers to process more material. Once surface gold was depleted, large mining corporations moved in, employing hundreds to sink mine shafts and extract deep veins of gold. These corporations, rather than individual miners, typically reaped the greatest financial rewards.
The growth of mining corporations led to the establishment of towns filled with young men seeking riches. These towns created opportunities for others to get rich indirectly, such as hardware store owners, saloon keepers, and freight operators like Wells Fargo, which initially transported gold and later became a bank. Women also found opportunities, including in prostitution.
The mining frontier also became a source of popular entertainment for Americans back East. The story of Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood exemplifies this. Hickok, a famous gunslinger, was killed while playing poker, holding what became known as the 'dead man's hand' (aces full of eights). Such dramatic stories captivated the nation and fueled interest in the West.
The mining frontier's main economic contribution was the significant increase in gold supply. As gold was the primary form of currency at the time, this influx greatly boosted the US economy. The gold was invested, creating jobs and stimulating growth in factories and businesses, thus playing a crucial role in the economic development of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.