The Late Settlers Think! Homes for families on the Plains - Homesteaders The Open Range for young men - the Cattle trails and Cowboys

What might you be asked? YOU MUST BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING! What attracted Homesteaders to the Plains? How did they manage to farm and live on the Plains? (What were the problems, how did they overcome them?) What factors (eg. Government / Railroad) helped them settle on the Plains?

How are the late settlers different to the early settlers? Think! - Land - the early settlers moved as far west as they could: Gold miners - California First Farmers - Oregon Mormons - Great Salt Lake The late settlers wanted a lot of land in and around the Plains and down towards the southern states (Texas). (see map next page!)

Late Early The Plains - Plains Indians first, then Homestea-ders Oregon - Farms Great Salt Lake -Mormons Texas and Plains - Cattlemen and Cowboys California - Gold

What does this source tell us about the lives of Homesteaders?

Sodhouses (dirt, dried grass, infested) Lack of wood for building Poor quality land - prairie, dry Back break-ing farm work Role for men and women Bad weather, wind, rain, hot sun Extended families

So why did families bother moving there in the first place? Pull factors Offer of land Start of a new life / adventure Advertising by railroad companies Letters from those already living there Push factors People came from Europe escaping poor quality land, poverty, unemployment, persecution (Jews from Russia) Soldiers returning from the civil war Ex-salves seeking a new life away from slavery Economic problems, failure of crops, people hungry

The Homestead Act Settlers allowed to have free of charge 160 acres of land The terms stated that homesteaders had to build a house on the land and live there for five years. After that time they would receive the deeds to land. 1873 - the act was extended through the Timber Culture Act. This provided another 160 acres of land as long as 40 acres were planted with trees. This was later reduced to 10 acres.

The sort of houses built for land speculators to acquire land

Problems with the Homestead Act Critics said the amount of land was to small for a family to survive Land was more or less fertile depending where you were Land speculators got their employees to apply for land and then buy it off them to sell for higher profits What was good about the Homestead Act? It became possible for Homesteaders to get as much as 480 acres of land. This meant families could make more profit. This was further extended to 640 acres. It played a significant part in encouraging settlement on the Plains.

What were the other Land Acts? Government responded to critcism of Homestead Act Timber Culture Act – 1873 Up to 480 acres of land as long as planted at least 40 acres of trees Made Homesteads bigger and more likely to make a profit Desert Land Act - 1877 U 640 acres in areas where the rainfall was a problem Had to irrigate land

The many problems faced living on the Plains. Can you remember any of the solutions?

A quick clue ...

The solutions!

Why was the role of women so important on the Homestead?