Westward Expansion
1. 1848
-------- Transcontinental railroad completed Desert Land Act Gold discovered in California Chinese Exclusion Act passed Western Federation of Miners formed Large-scale cattle drives begin Homestead Act passed John Wesley Powell questions suitability of Great Plains for small-scale farming; Timber and Stone Act Gold discovered in Black Hills of North Dakota Cattle industry collapses
2. 1862
-------- Transcontinental railroad completed Desert Land Act Gold discovered in California Chinese Exclusion Act passed Western Federation of Miners formed Large-scale cattle drives begin Homestead Act passed John Wesley Powell questions suitability of Great Plains for small-scale farming; Timber and Stone Act Gold discovered in Black Hills of North Dakota Cattle industry collapses
3. Later 1860s
-------- Transcontinental railroad completed Desert Land Act Gold discovered in California Chinese Exclusion Act passed Western Federation of Miners formed Large-scale cattle drives begin Homestead Act passed John Wesley Powell questions suitability of Great Plains for small-scale farming; Timber and Stone Act Gold discovered in Black Hills of North Dakota Cattle industry collapses
4. 1869
-------- Transcontinental railroad completed Desert Land Act Gold discovered in California Chinese Exclusion Act passed Western Federation of Miners formed Large-scale cattle drives begin Homestead Act passed John Wesley Powell questions suitability of Great Plains for small-scale farming; Timber and Stone Act Gold discovered in Black Hills of North Dakota Cattle industry collapses
5. 1870s
-------- Transcontinental railroad completed Desert Land Act Gold discovered in California Chinese Exclusion Act passed Western Federation of Miners formed Large-scale cattle drives begin Homestead Act passed John Wesley Powell questions suitability of Great Plains for small-scale farming; Timber and Stone Act Gold discovered in Black Hills of North Dakota Cattle industry collapses
6. 1877
-------- Transcontinental railroad completed Desert Land Act Gold discovered in California Chinese Exclusion Act passed Western Federation of Miners formed Large-scale cattle drives begin Homestead Act passed John Wesley Powell questions suitability of Great Plains for small-scale farming; Timber and Stone Act Gold discovered in Black Hills of North Dakota Cattle industry collapses
7. 1878
-------- Transcontinental railroad completed Desert Land Act Gold discovered in California Chinese Exclusion Act passed Western Federation of Miners formed Large-scale cattle drives begin Homestead Act passed John Wesley Powell questions suitability of Great Plains for small-scale farming; Timber and Stone Act Gold discovered in Black Hills of North Dakota Cattle industry collapses
8. 1882
-------- Transcontinental railroad completed Desert Land Act Gold discovered in California Chinese Exclusion Act passed Western Federation of Miners formed Large-scale cattle drives begin Homestead Act passed John Wesley Powell questions suitability of Great Plains for small-scale farming; Timber and Stone Act Gold discovered in Black Hills of North Dakota Cattle industry collapses
9. 1885-1887
-------- Transcontinental railroad completed Desert Land Act Gold discovered in California Chinese Exclusion Act passed Western Federation of Miners formed Large-scale cattle drives begin Homestead Act passed John Wesley Powell questions suitability of Great Plains for small-scale farming; Timber and Stone Act Gold discovered in Black Hills of North Dakota Cattle industry collapses
10. 1893
-------- Transcontinental railroad completed Desert Land Act Gold discovered in California Chinese Exclusion Act passed Western Federation of Miners formed Large-scale cattle drives begin Homestead Act passed John Wesley Powell questions suitability of Great Plains for small-scale farming; Timber and Stone Act Gold discovered in Black Hills of North Dakota Cattle industry collapses