1. Farming, Inventions, and Railroads
Lesson 3 pg

2. A Tough People
These people made homes out of dirt and burned cow and buffalo chips for fuel.
Began to find solutions for many problems they faced.

3. Problem #1
Farmers needed to fence in their land so that their cattle wouldn’t wander around and destroy their crops.
Solution: Barbed Wire
1874
Introduced by Joseph Glidden
Had sharp points that taught cattle not to break through.
Created a whole new industry: Barb Fence Company

4. Problem #2 Water was scarce on the Great Plains Solution: Dry Farming
Method for irrigating fields
Small ditches were dug on each side of a row of plants to collect rain
After rainfall, farmers quickly turned over the soil to move wet soil closer to the roots of plants.

5. Problem #3 Farmers faced the problem of rock-hard soil
Solution: Bessemer Process
Steel-bladed plow
Mechanized grain drill
Thresher

6. Railroads By 1893 five transcontinental railroads had been completed.
Important to economic development
Helped lure many people to the West
Created many jobs
Lay tracks
Worked in mills producing steel
Opened up markets for products
Lumber
Minerals
Stoves, clothing, furniture

7. Not everyone was a winner
Native Americans fought and lost many battles to keep their land
Millions of buffalo were killed by settlers
New industries killed off old ones
Barbed wire put an end to the open range
Railroad meant the end of the stagecoach and wagons

8. Now it’s your turn...
Answer each question.

9. Question 1
How did farmers solve the problem of protecting their crops from wandering cattle?
Answer: with barbed wire fences
Points: 5

10. Question 2
Name 3 types of farm machinery that made planting and harvesting crops in hard soil easier.
Answer: steel-bladed plow, mechanized grain drill, thresher
Points: 15

11. Question 3
How did farmers solve the problem of scarce water for their crops?
Answer: dry-farming
Points:10

12. Question 4
How did steel making and railroads contribute to the development of the West?
Answer: created jobs, supported new technology and inventions
Points: 15

13. Question 5
Where did the Native Americans have to move when the settlers kicked them off of their land?
Answer: reservations
Points: 5

14. Question 6 What were 3 advantages of living in a sod house?
Answer: cool in summer, warm in winter, fireproof
Points: 10

15. Question 7 What were two disadvantages of living in a sod house?
Answer: Dirty, animals get in, rain makes everything muddy
Points:10

16. Question 8
What were the three frontiers in the settlement of the West?
Answer: ranching, farming, mining
Points: 5

17. Question 9 What was a cowboy’s main job?
Answer: rounding up cattle and driving them to railroad centers
Points: 10

18. Question 10 Name two ways that gold-seekers traveled to California.
Answer: overland by wagon, clipper ship or sailing
Points:10