Section 2Section 2

Settling on the Great PlainsSettling on the Great Plains

Settlers Move Westward to FarmSettlers Move Westward to Farm

Took 250 yrs to turn 400 million acres Took 250 yrs to turn 400 million acres of forests and prairies into flourishing of forests and prairies into flourishing farmsfarms• Settling the second 400 million acres Settling the second 400 million acres

took only 30 yrs (1870-1900)took only 30 yrs (1870-1900)

Federal land policies and the Federal land policies and the completion of the transcontinental completion of the transcontinental railroad lines made it possiblerailroad lines made it possible

Railroads Open the Railroads Open the WestWest

1850-1871 federal govt made huge land grants to the railroads for laying track1850-1871 federal govt made huge land grants to the railroads for laying track• 170 million acres170 million acres• Worth half a billion dollarsWorth half a billion dollars

Both the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific received Both the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific received • 10 sq miles of public land for every mile of track laid in a state10 sq miles of public land for every mile of track laid in a state• 20 sq miles of land for every mile of track laid in territory20 sq miles of land for every mile of track laid in territory

Central Pacific moved eastward from Sacramento, Union Pacific moved westward from OmahaCentral Pacific moved eastward from Sacramento, Union Pacific moved westward from Omaha• Civil War vets, Irish, Chinese, African Americans, and Mexican Americans did most of the laborCivil War vets, Irish, Chinese, African Americans, and Mexican Americans did most of the labor

Both companies reached Utah by the spring of 1869Both companies reached Utah by the spring of 1869• 15 yrs later, the country boasted five transcontinental railroads15 yrs later, the country boasted five transcontinental railroads

RR companies sold some land to farmers for two to ten dollars an acreRR companies sold some land to farmers for two to ten dollars an acre

Some successfully sent agents to Europe to recruit buyersSome successfully sent agents to Europe to recruit buyers

By 1880, 44% of the settlers in Nebraska and more than 70% in Minnesota and Wisconsin were By 1880, 44% of the settlers in Nebraska and more than 70% in Minnesota and Wisconsin were immigrantsimmigrants

Government Support for Government Support for SettlementSettlement

Homestead Act (1862)Homestead Act (1862)• Offered 160 acres of land free to any citizen or intended citizen Offered 160 acres of land free to any citizen or intended citizen

who was head of the householdwho was head of the household• 600,000 Families took advantage600,000 Families took advantage

Exodusters—Af Am who moved from the post-Reconstruction South Exodusters—Af Am who moved from the post-Reconstruction South to Kansasto Kansas

• Private speculators, railroad agents, and govt agents used the Private speculators, railroad agents, and govt agents used the law for their own gainlaw for their own gain

• Cattlemen fenced open lands, miners and wood cutters Cattlemen fenced open lands, miners and wood cutters claimed national resourcesclaimed national resources

• Only 10% of the land was actually settled by the families for Only 10% of the land was actually settled by the families for whom it was intendedwhom it was intended

Not all plots of land were equalNot all plots of land were equal

Expanded the Homestead ActExpanded the Homestead Act• 1889 land giveaway in what is now Oklahoma attracted 1889 land giveaway in what is now Oklahoma attracted

thousandsthousands• Less than a day settlers claimed 2 million acresLess than a day settlers claimed 2 million acres

The Closing of the FrontierThe Closing of the Frontier Henry D. Washburn and fellow explorer Nathaniel P Henry D. Washburn and fellow explorer Nathaniel P

Langford asked Congress to help protect the wilderness Langford asked Congress to help protect the wilderness from settlementfrom settlement• 1870 surveying land in NW Wyoming described the area’s 1870 surveying land in NW Wyoming described the area’s

geysers and bubbling springs as “objects new experience…geysers and bubbling springs as “objects new experience…possessing unlimited grandeur and beauty”possessing unlimited grandeur and beauty”

1872, created Yellowstone National Park1872, created Yellowstone National Park• Railroads had to give up their claim to western landholdingsRailroads had to give up their claim to western landholdings

1880 individuals had bought more then 19 million acres of 1880 individuals had bought more then 19 million acres of govt owned landgovt owned land• 10 yrs later the Census Bureau declared that the country no 10 yrs later the Census Bureau declared that the country no

longer had a continuous frontier line (frontier no longer longer had a continuous frontier line (frontier no longer existed)existed)

Settlers Meet the Challenges of the Settlers Meet the Challenges of the PlainsPlains

Settlers faced extreme hardshipsSettlers faced extreme hardships• Drought, floods, fires, blizzards, locust Drought, floods, fires, blizzards, locust

plaques, occasional raids by outlaws or plaques, occasional raids by outlaws or nativesnatives

However, national population grew However, national population grew from 1% in west of the Mississippi to from 1% in west of the Mississippi to 30% of the population30% of the population

Dugouts and Dugouts and SoddiesSoddies

DugoutsDugouts• Dug their homes into the sides of ravines or small hillsDug their homes into the sides of ravines or small hills• A stove pipe jutting from the ground was often the only A stove pipe jutting from the ground was often the only

clear sign of a dugout clear sign of a dugout

SoddiesSoddies• Made freestanding houses by stacking blocks of prairie Made freestanding houses by stacking blocks of prairie

turfturf• Was warm in the winter and cool in the summerWas warm in the winter and cool in the summer• Small offered little light or airSmall offered little light or air• Havens for snakes, insects, etcHavens for snakes, insects, etc• Were fireproof but leaked continuously when it rainedWere fireproof but leaked continuously when it rained

Women WorkingWomen Working

Often worked beside the men in the fields, plowing the land Often worked beside the men in the fields, plowing the land and planting and harvesting the predominant crop (wheat)and planting and harvesting the predominant crop (wheat)

Sheared sheep and carded wool to make clothes for their Sheared sheep and carded wool to make clothes for their familiesfamilies

Hauled water from wells that they helped digHauled water from wells that they helped dig

Made soap and candles from tallow (fat from sheep and Made soap and candles from tallow (fat from sheep and cattle)cattle)

Canned fruits and veggiesCanned fruits and veggies

Skilled at doctoring sponsored schools and churchesSkilled at doctoring sponsored schools and churches

Technical Support for FarmersTechnical Support for Farmers InventionsInventions

• 1837 John Deere invented a steel plow that could slice through 1837 John Deere invented a steel plow that could slice through heavy soilheavy soil

• 1847 Cyrus McCormick mass-produced a reaping machine1847 Cyrus McCormick mass-produced a reaping machine• Spring tooth harrow to prepare the soilSpring tooth harrow to prepare the soil• Grain drill to plant the seedGrain drill to plant the seed• Barbed wire corn binderBarbed wire corn binder• Reaper that could cut and thresh wheat in one passReaper that could cut and thresh wheat in one pass

1890 there were more than 900 manufacturers for farm 1890 there were more than 900 manufacturers for farm equipmentequipment

1830 a bushel of grain took about 183 min, by 1900 it took 1830 a bushel of grain took about 183 min, by 1900 it took only 10 minonly 10 min

Agricultural EducationAgricultural Education Morrill Act of 1862 and 1890Morrill Act of 1862 and 1890

• Gave federal land to the states to help finance Gave federal land to the states to help finance agricultural collegesagricultural colleges

Hatch Act of 1887Hatch Act of 1887• Est agricultural experiment stations to inform Est agricultural experiment stations to inform

farmers of new developmentsfarmers of new developments

Researchers developed grains for arid soil Researchers developed grains for arid soil and techniques for dry farmingand techniques for dry farming• Enabled the dry eastern plains to flourish and Enabled the dry eastern plains to flourish and

become “the breadbasket of the nation”become “the breadbasket of the nation”

Farmers in DebtFarmers in Debt

Machinery was expensive, often they would have to borrowMachinery was expensive, often they would have to borrow

Prices for wheat were higher farmers could usually repay Prices for wheat were higher farmers could usually repay their loans when they were low farmers needed to raise their loans when they were low farmers needed to raise more crops to make ends meetmore crops to make ends meet

Gave rise to a new type of farming Gave rise to a new type of farming • Bonanza farmingBonanza farming

Enormous single-crops spreads of 15,000-50,000 acresEnormous single-crops spreads of 15,000-50,000 acres Slowly folded because they weren’t as flexible as small farmsSlowly folded because they weren’t as flexible as small farms

Railroads charged western farmers a higher feeRailroads charged western farmers a higher fee• Charged more for short hauls (no competition)Charged more for short hauls (no competition)• RR said it was just business, farmers resented being taken RR said it was just business, farmers resented being taken

advantage ofadvantage of

Section 2 ReviewSection 2 Review

1) Review the changes in technology 1) Review the changes in technology that influenced the life of settlers on that influenced the life of settlers on the Great Plains in the late 1800’s. the Great Plains in the late 1800’s. Explain how you think settlement of Explain how you think settlement of the plains would have been different the plains would have been different without these inventions.without these inventions.

2) How did the railroads take 2) How did the railroads take advantage of farmers?advantage of farmers?