Settling on the Great Plains

Americans Move West

I.) Government Help Settlers Move West

A. Homestead Act of 1862- act passed by Congress offering 160 acres of free land to any citizen or head of household- Exodusters- African-Americans who move West from South

B. Problems:1. Railroads & Govt. gobble up land2. Ranchers fence off land3. Miners & Woodcutters claim

natural resources

C. Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889-as part of the Homestead Act, federal govt. offers a major land giveaway in Oklahoma1. in less than one day settler claim 2 million acres

II.) Life on the PlainsA. Settlers face droughts,

floods, fires, dust storms, & raids by outlaws or Native Americans

B. Trees are scarce = build home from land itself1. Soddy- home made by settlers by sod

C. Women’s Role1. worked the land, prepared food, cared for home, and raised the children

III.) Agriculture Inventions 1837 John Deere invents steel plow 1847 Cyrus McCormick invents reaping machine 1869 Spring-tooth Harrow to prep soil 1841 Grain drill to plant seed 1874 Joseph Glidden invents barbed wire 1878 Corn binder and reaper

Outcome:

1. more grain available 2. need for more farmland!

IV.) Agricultural AssistanceA.) Morrill Act of 1862 & 1890- federal govt.

gives land to states to establish agricultural colleges

B.) Hatch Act of 1887- established experiment stations for development of new agricultural tools1. Great Plains nickname: “the Breadbasket of the Nation”