Name Period Parent Signature (EC) LESSON PACKET NEVADA 7 th Social Studies DUE DATE: Much of ancient Nevada use to be covered by waters from ancient Lake Lahontan. Indians from Nevada included the Washoe, Shoshone and Paiute. Need for fur brought the first mountain men to Nevada, finding routes across the desert Emigrants finally came to Nevada for good when SILVER was discovered on the Comstock Lode Re-electing Abraham Lincoln led to Nevada becoming a state in 1864. Nevada to most settlers in the 1840 s meant the long stretch of desert following the Humboldt River to the gigantic Sierra Nevada Mountains on their way to California. To the 3 major Native Americans tribes of Nevada it meant a home filled with seasonal movement and sacred places. Both visions of this territory would change by 1859, when miners would return from California over the Sierra Nevada in search of gold at first, and then huge amounts of SILVER. Though Nevada is dry today, ancient Nevada was a lush moisture rich area dominated by a large inland sea. Going back to the time of dinosaurs, the swimming giant known as the Ichthyosaurs roamed Nevada s land underwater. In human times, the sea known to us today as ancient Lake Lahontan covered most of Northwestern Nevada. Tribes of people called its lakeshore home and made fishing nets and duck decoys. However, with the ever rising Sierra Nevada Mountains, Nevada has become more and more dry over the past several thousand years. Ringed by mountains, the territory known as the Great Basin (Big Bowl), with inland flowing rivers, became the dominate landform. Only the very southern tip of Nevada today is outside the Great Basin, but is part of the extremely hot Mojave Desert. Native tribes in Nevada, the Washoe, Shoshone and Paiute, lived in Nevada s harsh environment. Using the mountains and limited resources these tribes moved with the seasons. Winter was spent in the warmth of the valleys and the hot summers were escaped by moving into the many mountain areas. In 1848, gold was discovered in California. Thousands of settlers followed the Humboldt River through Nevada on their way to California. A small settlement was established by Mormon traders from Salt Lake City in the Carson Valley to trade with the settlers. The Latter Day Saints sent even more settlers to Nevada, in Washoe & Eagle Valley (Carson City). However, the numbers remained low until 49 ers searching for more gold began to find some in the hills near what would become Virginia City. Then in 1859, the small gold deposits were forgotten as huge amounts of Silver, known as the Comstock Lode were discovered. The Rush to Washo was on as the Comstock Lode made news around the world. But unlike California s placer mining, Nevada s silver was deep beneath the earth. Virginia City grew upon the rich hills as modern industrial mining took over. Trees from Lake Tahoe were turned into Square Sets to hold up the huge caverns created when the silver was removed. Railroads reached the west and helped move huge machines, pumps and material up the mountains. Mining shafts and men were driven thousands of feet into the earth in search of silver that was disappearing by the day. Nevada even became a state, earlier than thought, as more Electoral College votes in 1864 were seen as needed to keep Abraham Lincoln president. Territorial Gov. Nye turned the state over to it s elected officials, and on October 31 st, 1864, Nevada became the 34h state in the union. Nevada chose the motto Battle Born to symbolize its addition to the union during the great Civil War. Answer the following using the reading above: 1. UNDERLINE the sentence that describes the Great Basin region.. 2. Agree / Disagree Nevada s Geography has remained the same since ancient times. 3. What best describes Native American life in Nevada at the time of the settlers and miners? a. They lived by large lush lakes and used fishing to support them. b. Washo, Shoshone & Paiutes set-up the first trading settlement and made money from the miners. c. Native Americans migrated with the changing weather and lived in a harsh environment. 4. CIRCLE The river that settlers followed through Nevada to get to California. 5. What year could best be described as a turning point in Nevada History? a. 1864 b. 1964 c. 1849 d. 1859 What happened that year that was so important? 6. What are the 2 different names for the same religious group that set-up a trading post and the 1 st white farms in the Carson & Eagle Valleys? 7. California is to Gold as Nevada is to.
Explorers Chart- 10pts. Explorer Region Explored Time Period Locations Named for Explorer Kit Carson (p. 59) John C. Fremont (p. 58) James Beckwourth (p. 54) Peter Skene Ogden (p. 54) Jedediah Smith (pg. 52)- Vocabulary- 2pts. Each Sarah Winnemucca*(pg. 38)- Mormon Station* (pg. 70)- Square Set System (pg. 89)- Silver Kings (pg. 98)- Boom & Bust Cycle*- James Warren Nye (pg. 80)- William Morris Stewart (pg. 100)- Timeline- 5pts. -Ogden enters NV -Donner Party in NV -Mormon Station Expanded -Silver Rush Start -Nevada Becomes a State -Nevada becomes US Territory 1800 1820 1840 1860 1880
Nevada - Lesson Packet OBJ #1: Geography of Nevada Clues : What was the difference between Ancient Nevada Geography & current Nevada Geography? Draw a symbol for the Great Basin Name 4 NV Rivers that DO NOT reach an Ocean I. Ancient Nevada A. Ancient Lake Lahontan 1. Large Lake, Most of Western Nevada 2. Formed while Sierra Nevada Mnts. were still low B. Dinosaurs!!!! 1. Ichtyosaurus- Large Swimming Dinosaur a. Remains found in Central Nevada C. Ancient People a. Lived in Caves around Lake Lahontan Ex. Lovelock Caves (Duck Decoys & Fishing Nets) b. Fished and Hunted II. Current Nevada Geography A. It s a DESERT!!!!!!!! 1. WHY?? Sierra Nevada Blocks Rainfall/Snow 2. Great Basin Big Bowl (All of NV except South) a. Rivers drain Inland (Not to Sea) Ex. Truckee, Humboldt, Walker, Carson Rivers 3. Mojave Desert (Southern Nevada- Vegas) a. Rivers drain to Colorado River to Pacific 1. Compare the current and ancient geography of Nevada. What two geographic regions is Nevada part of currently? What water features were there then and now? How do mountains play a role? Give an example of a dinosaur that use to roam in (swim through) Nevada. (Nevada Ch. 1 pgs. 2-19)
B. Rivers & Lakes 1. Northern Rivers all part of Great Basin a. Small rivers that shrink in Summer after snow is gone (Water in reservoirs- Man made lakes) 2. Southern (Flow to Pacific Ocean) -Colorado River, Lake Mead Reservoir Created by Hoover (Boulder) Dam
Clues : Another term for Anasazi Read the Sarah Winnmeucca Biography in the NV Book pg. 38 List 4 Facts 1. 2. 3. 4. Nevada - Lesson Packet OBJ #2: Native Americans in Nevada I. The Original People A. Ancient People / Pre-History (Time before Writing) 1. Arrived from Asia 10,000 to 12,000 years ago 2. used stone tools B. Anasazi The Old Ones (3ooBC to 1150AD) 1. Lived near Las Vegas 2. Farmers, Cities, Traded 3. Disappeared around 1150 (drought??) C. Modern Native Americans 1. Nomadic Hunting and Gathering a. Follow animals and food based on seasons (Winter-Valley /Summer-Mnts.) 2. Tribes- N./S. Paiute, Washo, Shoshone 3. Reservations a. Areas Native Am. are given to break nomadic lifestyle. b. Whites want them to farm 2. Describe the lifestyle of the major Native American groups in Nevada. How long ago do scientist believe the first humans lived in Nevada? Name the four major tribes. What tribe would have lived in Reno/Sparks area? By the early 1900 s, where had most Native Americans been forced to live in Nevada? (Nevada Ch. 2 pgs. 22-45)
Clues : Which Mountain Man or explorer would have said the following: a. Water, Water!!, I need Water! b. No one better mess with me! c. Follow me.. I know an easier way! d. Hi Chief Truckee Write 3 facts about the easiest route across NV: 1. Nevada - Lesson Packet OBJ #3: Mountain Men & Exploration I. Exploration (Gold/Furs/Travel Routes) A. 1st Europeans to see Nevada- Spanish just look 1. Old Spanish trail goes through Southern NV -Links New Mexico to California B. 1st Explorers (Mountain Men Trapping Beaver) 1. Jedediah Smith (1827) a. Crosses thru South into Calf (Mex. Mad) b. Crosses back through middle of NV and almost dies (NO WATER) 2. Peter Skene Ogden (1828/1829) a. 1st to see Humboldt River (60 Beaver per day!!!) 3. Joseph Walker (1833-1834) a. Crosses from Salt Lake to California (Mexico Mad) b. 1st battle w/native Am- Kills & Mutilates Mountain. Man Example 4. James Beckwourth (Af. American Mountain Man) a. Found easier way over Sierras 3. Describe the goals of the first explorers in Nevada? Name the three major routes created by these explorers across Nevada. Which route became most popular, why? Which became the least popular, why? What modern transportation routes follow this most popular path? (Nevada Ch. 3 pgs. 48-65) - Complete the Explorer s Chart on the back.
C. Kit Carson & John C. Fremont (Path Finders) 1. 1844 sent to explore better routes to Calif. 2. 1st Mission- to South Pass 3. 2nd Mission- South Pass to California a. Mnt. Men Carson & Walker Help b. Meets Chief Truckee @ Pyramid Lake c. Truckee helps B. Trails & Emigrant Routes D. Routes Across Nevada 1. Spanish Spanish Trail (1780) a. Across S. Nevada From New Mex. to S. Calif. b. Now Interstate 15 2. Central Route (1830) a. Across middle of Nevada, used as first mail road, stage road, telegraph, and them find route to Sierra Mnts. to get to Calif. Pony Express. b. Now Highway 50 (Loneliest road in America) c. Used by John Reese, to get to Sierras and set-up Mormon Station d. NO WATER!!!!! Hardest Route 3. Northern Route (California Trail) (1830) a. Peter Skene Ogden found Humboldt River. *More water than Central Route. b. Only 40mi. with no water between Lovelock and Truckee/Carson Rivers. c. Used by most Settlers to get to California (NO ONE WANTS TO STOP!!!) d. Now Interstate 80 (Railroads also followroute) **Settlement takes off with 1849 Gold Strike!!
Nevada - Lesson Packet OBJ #4: Silver & the Comstock Lode Clues : What are three different names for the area where Silver was found? If the California miners where called 49 ers what should the NV miners be called? Nevada has had many Boom & Bust times.. what would you say we are in now? I. People Just Passing through A. Before this..people just going to Calf.! B. Mormons in Nevada- Settled some farms in Washoe Valley but left in 1857 (Trouble with U.S. Gov t Called back by Church) 1. Mormon Station (Genoa)- Trading Post for Wagon Trains at base of Sierra Nevada Mnts. (1st Roofed White Settlement) II. Silver In NEVADA (Hey people might stay!) A. THE BIG ONE!!! Comstock Lode (1859) 1. BLUE Mud getting in way of Little Gold 2. Mud taken to Calf.- It s SILVER!!!!! B. RUSH TO WASHOE!!!!! (Nevada) 1. Virginia City becomes 2nd Largest City west of Mississippi River 2. San Francisco Booms with Ships & Supplies for Nevada (Largest City WEST of Mississippi) 3. People from all overa. White, Black, Irish, Chinese, Spanish C. Life on the Comstock 1. No Rules / No Laws a. First few years have no Law Boomtowns!! b. Men / Money / Booze / Guns = TROUBLE 4. Describe the major event that led people to permanently settle in Nevada? Define Comstock Lode*. What city became the center of this event? Describe the life of early boomtowns. What had settled in Nevada even before mining started? (Nevada Ch. 3 pgs. 48-65)
2. Big Mines are Hard Work a. Mining 2000ft below ground -Uses huge Machines Pumps, Elevators, Air Powered Drills Steam Engines!! -Large Companies/Corporations own mines.. not miners! b. Hot / Dangerous / Deadly 3. Boom & Bust a. Boom= Gold/Silver Found..Huge Towns, Many People, $$ b. Bust = No MORE!! -Ghost Towns, No $$, People Leave!! Copy 1 st & 2 nd Paragraph Under Early Comstock Days Pg. 88 Use the Picture on Pg. 89 & read Creativity to Meet the Challenges Diagram Square -Set Timbering who invented it?
Clues : Name one thing from each of the following categories you would have put on a New Nevada state Flag: Person: Geography (Term or Place) Date: Color: Symbol(s) Nevada - Lesson Packet OBJ #5: Nevada Becoming a State I. 1860- Taken from Utah Terr. Now Nevada Terr. A. Miners get U.S. to separate Nevada from Utah 1. Miners do not want Mormon rules 2. Had asked California to annex them (No) B. Gov. Nye from New York appointed by Lincoln II. Battle Born- 1864 (Enabling Act) A. NV becomes state during Civil War 1. Why? a. Lincoln needs Electoral College votes to get re-elected B. New Nevada Congressmen/Senators could help pass new Amendments to the Constitution (Outlaw Slavery / Punish South) 1. NOT because of silver to save the Union! 2. Constitution sent entirely by Telegraph a. Had to get to Washington fast so we could vote for Lincoln in 1864 election (Oct. 31, 1864- Nevada Day!) Pg. 81 Copy the 3 Rules Nevada had to follow to become a state 1. 2. 3. 5. Describe how the election of 1864 helped Nevada become a state. Who had become president? Why did Nevada s motto become Battle Born? What law allowed Nevada to become a state? How was Nevada s Constitution sent back to Washington, D.C.? (Nevada Ch. 3 pgs. 79-85)