Farming the Plains Chapter 8 Section 2

Geography of the Plains Great Plains Extends from the Mississippi River westward to the Rocky Mountains Stephen Long One of the first explorers to call the Great Plains the “Great American Desert”

The Beginnings of Settlement Railroad companies sold land along the rail lines at low prices and provided credit to prospective settlers Homestead Act Homesteaders could gain title to the land by living there for five years (160 acres) Homestead A tract of public land available for settlement

The Wheat Belt Many inventions and new farming methods revolutionized agriculture Dry Farming Farmers planted seeds deep in the ground where there was enough moisture for them Wheat Belt Productive farm area that began at the eastern edge of the Great Plains Wheat had an advantage on the Great Plains because it could withstand drought better than other crops

The Wheat Belt Commercial Farming Farmers Fall on Hard Times New machines allowed a single family to bring in a substantial harvest of wheat Bonanza farms Often brought their owners huge profits Farmers Fall on Hard Times Prolonged drought began in the late 1880’s Some homesteaders gave up and returned back east, but others arrived to take their place

Closing the Frontier In 1890, settlement throughout the West was so rapid that there was no longer a frontier line Some were concerned; they believed the frontier created a “safety-valve of social discontent” The idea that Americans could always make a fresh start Fredrick Jackson Turner Believed that the opportunities and challenges of frontier life created a uniquely American lifestyle