A homestead family posing before their sod houseA homestead family posing before their sod house

and windmill near Coburg, Nebraska, 1887.and windmill near Coburg, Nebraska, 1887.

Learning Goals: Learning Goals: 1.1. Explain the Explain the

government’s land government’s land policies. policies.

2.2. Describe farm life Describe farm life on the Great on the Great Plains. Plains.

3.3. Summarize how Summarize how and why farmers and why farmers organized to gain organized to gain political power.political power.

Journal: You are the parent of Journal: You are the parent of five children. You are working five children. You are working on the family farm in Missouri on the family farm in Missouri handed down to you by your handed down to you by your father. You hate farming and father. You hate farming and have always wanted to own have always wanted to own your own business. The your own business. The opportunity to open a store in a opportunity to open a store in a frontier town has been given to frontier town has been given to you. If you choose to go, you you. If you choose to go, you will have to sell the farm and will have to sell the farm and deplete your life savings in deplete your life savings in order to fund the trip. 70% of order to fund the trip. 70% of new businesses fail. new businesses fail. Should Should you remain, give up your dream you remain, give up your dream or take the opportunity? Why?or take the opportunity? Why?

• Write on the board or overhead "What is Money?" Ask this Write on the board or overhead "What is Money?" Ask this question and others to begin a discussion of the concept question and others to begin a discussion of the concept of of contemporarycontemporary money and its value: money and its value:

• What is money based on?What is money based on?• What is its value?What is its value?• Where does its value come from?Where does its value come from?• What happens when there is more money circulating?What happens when there is more money circulating?• What does it mean when people say the value of the dollar What does it mean when people say the value of the dollar

is dropping?is dropping?• How does inflation affect debtors? Creditors?How does inflation affect debtors? Creditors?• What would it mean if money was actually backed by an What would it mean if money was actually backed by an

actual object, such as gold? How would the supply of that actual object, such as gold? How would the supply of that commodity impact the value of money?commodity impact the value of money?

Since the beginning of the United States, currency was backed by Since the beginning of the United States, currency was backed by the gold and silver owned by the U.S. Treasury. The government the gold and silver owned by the U.S. Treasury. The government set the value of silver in relation to gold and it remained at that set the value of silver in relation to gold and it remained at that "mint value" according to government policy regardless of the "mint value" according to government policy regardless of the actual "market value" of silver and gold. Over the years, silver actual "market value" of silver and gold. Over the years, silver became unused as a monetary object because the market value for became unused as a monetary object because the market value for silver was greater than the mint value. That meant that it was in the silver was greater than the mint value. That meant that it was in the best interest of silver owners to sell their silver on the market for best interest of silver owners to sell their silver on the market for use in jewelry, utensils, etc., because they would make a greater use in jewelry, utensils, etc., because they would make a greater profit.profit.

Discussion Questions: Imagine a world where the value of Discussion Questions: Imagine a world where the value of gold and silver decreased below its real value. gold and silver decreased below its real value. What would What would happen if the market value of silver decreased to less than happen if the market value of silver decreased to less than the mint value? the mint value? What would silver owners do? (Redeem their What would silver owners do? (Redeem their silver for gold at the Treasury.)silver for gold at the Treasury.)

1. Americans had 1. Americans had been asking the been asking the government for government for years to make years to make western land western land available but the available but the people in the people in the South refused South refused because it would because it would create more non-create more non-slave statesslave states..

2. The 2. The government government opened up opened up the the WestWest when the when the South seceded South seceded in 1861 throughin 1861 through the Homestead the Homestead Act.Act.

Think-Pair- ShareThink-Pair- ShareDo you like to explore new places and Do you like to explore new places and things? Why or why not? Explain your things? Why or why not? Explain your answer.answer.

If you knew you would have an average If you knew you would have an average life staying where you are would you risk life staying where you are would you risk everything to move West?everything to move West?Think about your answer and then turn to a neighbor Think about your answer and then turn to a neighbor and share your thoughts. We will share as a group.and share your thoughts. We will share as a group.

3. Life on the 3. Life on the Great Plains was Great Plains was difficult as difficult as farmersfarmers had to had to deal with deep deal with deep snows, flooding, snows, flooding, harsh winds, and harsh winds, and soaring soaring temperatures.temperatures.

Homesteaders waiting for the Homesteaders waiting for the opening of the Cherokee Stripopening of the Cherokee Strip.

4. 4. The first The first states states (Wyoming) to (Wyoming) to grant women grant women the right to the right to vote were in vote were in the West.the West.

Uncle Sam says, Uncle Sam says, ““Go Vote.”Go Vote.”.

Think-Pair- ShareThink-Pair- ShareThe states in the West were new and The states in the West were new and could create laws that gave women the could create laws that gave women the right to vote. Do you think it is harder to right to vote. Do you think it is harder to change laws and rules that have already change laws and rules that have already been in place? Explain your answer. been in place? Explain your answer. Provide an example. Provide an example. Think about your answer and then turn to a neighbor Think about your answer and then turn to a neighbor and share your thoughts. We will share as a group.and share your thoughts. We will share as a group.

5. 5. Grange Grange cooperativescooperatives helped farmers helped farmers by creating by creating methods methods so so that they keep that they keep more of their more of their profitsprofits..

6. Populists 6. Populists supported free supported free silver because silver because an increase in an increase in the money the money supply could supply could help drive up help drive up crop prices.crop prices.

Sterling Silver Sterling Silver SymbolSymbol

Think-Pair- ShareThink-Pair- ShareThe states in the West were new and The states in the West were new and could create laws that gave women the could create laws that gave women the right to vote. Do you think it is harder to right to vote. Do you think it is harder to change laws and rules that have already change laws and rules that have already been in place? Explain your answer. been in place? Explain your answer. Provide an example. Provide an example. Think about your answer and then turn to a neighbor Think about your answer and then turn to a neighbor and share your thoughts. We will share as a group.and share your thoughts. We will share as a group.

7. 7. A free silver policy was endorsed by A free silver policy was endorsed by William Jennings Bryan.William Jennings Bryan. He was He was against the gold standard and fought against the gold standard and fought for issues that affected the common for issues that affected the common man. Bryan’s nickname was the “Great man. Bryan’s nickname was the “Great Commoner.”Commoner.”

CLOSURE ACTIVITYCLOSURE ACTIVITY

Apply the lesson to a new situation.Apply the lesson to a new situation.

If the government of the United If the government of the United States gave people a chance to States gave people a chance to colonize another planet or moon colonize another planet or moon what are two lessons learned what are two lessons learned from homesteaders they could from homesteaders they could apply to their situation. apply to their situation.