The Homesteaders

Learning objectivesLearning objectives

• To understand who the homesteaders were.

• To understand why they moved onto the Great plains.

• To know what were the problems and solutions of farming on the Great Plains.

Why did people go West?Why did people go West?

• PUSH

• ENABLING

• PULL

Who were the Homesteaders? Who were the Homesteaders? PUSH FACTORSPUSH FACTORS

• Homesteaders were small farmers, usually growing crops.

White Americans from the eastWhite Americans from the east

European ImmigrantsEuropean Immigrants

Ex- soldiers from the Civil WarEx- soldiers from the Civil War

Ex-slavesEx-slaves

Why were the able to go west? Why were the able to go west? ENABLING FACTORSENABLING FACTORS

• The many Indians had been cleared from these lands and moved onto reservations through a series of treaties. (See page 84)

• 1860s the building of railroads.

Why did they want to go west?Why did they want to go west?

• Manifest Destiny

• The land was cheap.

• Propaganda.

Help from the governmentHelp from the government

• The 1862 Homestead Act – (fear of speculators) - all American citizens were entitled to 160 acres of land on the Plains for a fee of just $10. They had to live on the land for five years, and then it was theirs permanently.

Sod housesSod houses

Ploughing theland

Water

Size oflandholding

Farmingmachinery

Protectingcrops

Extremes ofweather

Insects

FireGrowing

crops

• Sodbusters

Wind pumps and dry farming

1873 - Timber and

Culture Act

Turkey Red

Barbed wire

Mass production and railways

Care

Ploughing theland