Changes on the Western Frontier Migration and Industrialization Unit

Settling the Great Plains Land Grants for Railroads Homestead Act - 1862 Helped to expand railroads out West Race between Union Pacific (Eastward) and Central Pacific (Westward) Railroad companies Workers – Civil War veterans, Irish and Chinese immigrants, African and Mexican Americans – hard, dangerous labor Sold land to settlers, both American and European – many immigrants out West Gov’t policy – granted 160 acres of land to any citizen/would-be citizen – would need to cultivate it for 5 years Much of land taken by privateers –cattle ranches, railroads, miners, woodcutters etc. not farmers More laws made Act stronger; encouraged more settlers, esp. in Kansas and Oklahoma Frontier gone by 1890 - Census

Settling the Great Plains Daily Life on Farms Morrill & Hatch Acts Dugout and Soddy Homes – homes built in sides of hills or from sod (blocks of grasses and dirt) steel plow (John Deere), reaping machines, harrows, grain drills, barb wire, etc – made farming easier and faster – still hard work Women worked along side men; also did canning, doctoring, and teaching Morrill Acts – 1862 & 1890 – gave land to states for education on agriculture Hatch Act – 1887 – created stations for experiments on agriculture –create new developments and inform farmers Developed better grain and farming techniques for use in dry land Eastern Plains “Breadbasket of the Nation”

Settling the Great Plains Hardships Faced by Farmers More Hardships for Farmers Disease and Plagues (locus and grasshoppers) Bad weather (flood, drought, blizzard) Fire Raids by Natives or outlaws Financial problems (debts, bankruptcy, shipping costs, etc) Obtaining good land for farming Living in dugouts/soddies – cold, leaks, pests, etc Making almost everything by hand – self sufficient Physical hardships and labor

Rise of Cattle Ranchers Cattle raised prior to Civil War multiplied with limited supervision Joseph McCoy livestock trader from Chicago; used this as a moneymaking opportunity Worked with railroads to ship cattle and promised a good price Between 1867-1881 shipped 2 million+ cattle The “Real McCoy” – someone reliable Continued increase in technology helped rise of cattle ranches Refrigerated rail carriages – meat could be shipped easier Breeding experiments Barbed wire Wind pump

Downfall of Free Range Cattle Removal of native tribes meant more land – more competition Led to fighting/conflict over land Moving west – cattle not used to the climate – many died out Barb wire – lack of free range land for cattle – downfall of cowboys’ way of life Drought of 1883 – limited grass life for cattle Drop in beef pricing during 1885 depression Severe winters during 1885 and 1886 – many cowboys and cattle froze to death

Farmers and the Populist Movement Unprofitable Farming Grange & the Farmers’ Alliance Failing crop prices, unable to make payments on mortgages; higher shipping Less good farming land available Increase in currency – “greenbacks” taken away (could not be exchanged for other currency); thus loans cost more to pay back Cycle of credit and loans hard to break out of Organizations of farmers Promote social connections and education; helped to come together to fight railway and appeal to state gov’t Led to other farming organizations in different areas Developed into Populist Party