1. Bell Ringer – 3/7/08 1.What did the Homestead Act mean for Americans looking to move West? 2.How did the government acquire land to be issued through the Homestead Act? 3.Why did many African Americans move West? In what state did most Af-Ams settle?

2. Water Short supply throughout the West New settlers tried to adopt American Indian practices of building canals, dams, and sloping fields to control water flow Some farmers traveled several miles each day to get water for drinking, cooking, washing, & bathing

3. Water Wells Digging wells was difficult and time- consuming A Nebraska farmer took 2 years digging to reach water 300 feet underground Some windmills were used to draw water from the wells

4. Sod Houses Because trees were scarce in the West, people built sod houses They were buildings made from chunks cut from the heavy topsoil that were stacked like bricks Sod was heavy and difficult to work with

5. Weather Climate of the Great Plains caused hardships for farming families Summer heat, droughts, swarms of insects, winter blizzards Raging prairie fires were always a fear

6. Homework Page 448, #1, 2, & 4a