Farming, Inventions, and Railroads Lesson 3 pg. 303-307

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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