2. Settling The Great Plains Moving out to the west

3. West to Farm What helped the settlement of the Great Plains? What helped the settlement of the Great Plains? 1. Huge land grants to railroads made it cheap to lay track 1850-1871 1. Huge land grants to railroads made it cheap to lay track 1850-1871 Union Pacific and Central Pacific raced to go west Union Pacific and Central Pacific raced to go west

4. West to farm Who worked on the railroads? Who worked on the railroads? CW vets, Irish, Chinese, AA’s CW vets, Irish, Chinese, AA’s By 1869 both reached Utah, by 1874 had 5 transcontinental railroads By 1869 both reached Utah, by 1874 had 5 transcontinental railroads

5. West to Farm 2. Homestead Act- 160 acres free to head of household in 1862 2. Homestead Act- 160 acres free to head of household in 1862 1892-1900 600,000 families took advantage 1892-1900 600,000 families took advantage Exodusters- AA’s from south to Kansas Exodusters- AA’s from south to Kansas

6. West to farm 10 percent of land given to settlers 10 percent of land given to settlers RR’s, cattlemen, miners took advantage fenced land took resources RR’s, cattlemen, miners took advantage fenced land took resources Not all land equal in value Iowa vs. Kansas Not all land equal in value Iowa vs. Kansas

7. West to Farm Fixed act in 1889 huge land grant in Oklahoma Fixed act in 1889 huge land grant in Oklahoma 2 million people arrived early called Sooner's 2 million people arrived early called Sooner's

8. Closing the Frontier Occurred due to setting aside land for National Parks Yellowstone Occurred due to setting aside land for National Parks Yellowstone Forced RR’s to give up land claims Forced RR’s to give up land claims 1890 declared not frontier 1890 declared not frontier US had reached from sea to shining sea US had reached from sea to shining sea

9. Challenges on the Plains Weather droughts, floods, fires, blizzards, locusts, Weather droughts, floods, fires, blizzards, locusts, People- outlaws, Native Americans People- outlaws, Native Americans Pop grew from 1 to 30 percent by 1900 Pop grew from 1 to 30 percent by 1900

10. Challenges Environment- no trees, dug into side of hills called dugouts Environment- no trees, dug into side of hills called dugouts Soddy- houses made from soil well insulated, small, no light, lots of insects Soddy- houses made from soil well insulated, small, no light, lots of insects Leaked when it rained Leaked when it rained

11. Women Women worked beside men to harvest wheat Women worked beside men to harvest wheat Canned fruit and vegetables, sheered sheep, dug wells, made soap Canned fruit and vegetables, sheered sheep, dug wells, made soap Sponsored schools and churches Superwomen Sponsored schools and churches Superwomen

12. Technology Tough soil needed new technology like Tough soil needed new technology like Steel plow John Deere 1837, Cyrus McCormick reaper 1847 Steel plow John Deere 1837, Cyrus McCormick reaper 1847 1830 3 hours to produce a bushel, 1900 10 minutes 1830 3 hours to produce a bushel, 1900 10 minutes

13. Education Government supported farmers through education Government supported farmers through education Morrill act 1862, 1890 setup colleges of agriculture to teach farmers new techniques Morrill act 1862, 1890 setup colleges of agriculture to teach farmers new techniques Research developed new grains for dry land Research developed new grains for dry land

14. Western farming These innovations let the west become the Breadbasket of America These innovations let the west become the Breadbasket of America