Recognize cause and effect relationships. - Describe how farmers were able to settle in the West during the 19 th Century Recognize cause and effect relationships. - Describe how farmers were able to settle in the West during the 19 th Century.

Quiz

Factors Contributing to Agricultural Settlement of the West Land grants Land grants –Homestead Act (1862) – gave 160 acres to settlers who would live on and improve the land for at least five years. –Problem? much of the land was poor for farming, or excluded since it was already settled or owned by the railroads. much of the land was poor for farming, or excluded since it was already settled or owned by the railroads. –Success? 375,000 homesteads claimed by ,000 homesteads claimed by 1890.

Homestead Act land grant

Factors Contributing to Agricultural Settlement of the West Land grants Land grants –Oklahoma Land Giveaway (1889) – within one day, over two million acres claimed by “Nooners” and “Sooners” (claimed early).

Oklahoma Land Rush (1889) “Nooners vs. Sooners”

Factors Contributing to Agricultural Settlement of the West Various Groups Encouraged Settlement Various Groups Encouraged Settlement –Newspapers reported opportunity for all. –Land and steamship companies sent agents to Europe to “sell” America. –Immigrant associations encouraged it. –Railroads advertised farm lands for sale.

Factors Contributing to Agricultural Settlement of the West Various Groups Encouraged Settlement Various Groups Encouraged Settlement –Newspapers reported opportunity for all. –Land and steamship companies sent agents to Europe to “sell” America. –Railroads advertised farm lands for sale. –Blacks created a folk movement called Exodus, settling in KS, NE as “exodusters”.

“Exoduster” Homesteaders

Factors Contributing to Agricultural Settlement of the West Factors Contributing to Agricultural Settlement of the West By force in some cases: By force in some cases: –Whites seized communal Hispanic lands by force, then by law using the Santa Fe Ring. –Las Gorras Blancas (white caps) reacted by raiding white settlements, cutting fences, destroying railroad property.

Difficulties Facing Settlers Scarcity of trees meant settlers had to use available materials for building and fuel. Scarcity of trees meant settlers had to use available materials for building and fuel.

Interior of sod house – photograph taken in 1923, North Dakota

Difficulties Facing Settlers Scarcity of trees meant settlers had to use available materials for building and fuel. Scarcity of trees meant settlers had to use available materials for building and fuel. Water had to be transported over great distances. Water had to be transported over great distances. Sense of loneliness. Sense of loneliness. Need for fencing to protect fields/livestock. Need for fencing to protect fields/livestock.

Joseph Glidden Patent for barb wire

Difficulties Facing Settlers Scarcity of trees meant settlers had to use available materials for building and fuel. Scarcity of trees meant settlers had to use available materials for building and fuel. Water had to be transported over great distances. Water had to be transported over great distances. Sense of loneliness. Sense of loneliness. Need for fencing to protect fields/livestock. Need for fencing to protect fields/livestock. Aridity of the Great Plains. Aridity of the Great Plains. Tough sod of the Great Plains required special equipment to plow, plant and harvest. Tough sod of the Great Plains required special equipment to plow, plant and harvest. Outside forces oftentimes caused failure such as drought, competition, and costs of farming. Outside forces oftentimes caused failure such as drought, competition, and costs of farming.

Homesteads From Public Lands

Frederick Jackson Turner The Significance of the Frontier in American Society (1893) Turner Thesis argued that the frontier had “closed” or settled by 1890.