Chapter 19: Growth in the WestChapter 19: Growth in the WestSection 4: Farming and PopulismSection 4: Farming and Populism

Our government REALLY wanted Our government REALLY wanted people to settle the west in the late people to settle the west in the late

18001800’’ss They even gave away They even gave away

free land.free land. The The Homestead Act Homestead Act

gave away 160 acres gave away 160 acres of land to anyone who: of land to anyone who:

Would live on it for 5 Would live on it for 5 years…years…

……and improve the and improve the land in some way.land in some way.

The other group that supported The other group that supported people moving west was:people moving west was:

The Railroads.The Railroads. The government gave The government gave

land to the railroads – land to the railroads – to build on.to build on.

The railroads used The railroads used some and sold some – some and sold some – used some to build used some to build and sold some to and sold some to make money and have make money and have people living there people living there whowho’’d support their d support their business.business.

It sounded great to people who wanted to It sounded great to people who wanted to move there, but when they got to their new move there, but when they got to their new

land…land… It was not so nice.It was not so nice. These These ““sodbusterssodbusters”” had to build a had to build a

home/farm from scratch. They home/farm from scratch. They had to build houses out of the had to build houses out of the only thing they had – sodonly thing they had – sod (very (very few trees on the plains).few trees on the plains).

They had to keep warm by They had to keep warm by burning corn cobs – or burning corn cobs – or cow/buffalo _ _ _ _.cow/buffalo _ _ _ _.

Sometimes hard to find water.Sometimes hard to find water. Also, tornadoes, blizzards, Also, tornadoes, blizzards,

droughts, animals/snakes, bugs, droughts, animals/snakes, bugs, etc…etc…

Later on – new inventions helped Later on – new inventions helped – if they had the money.– if they had the money.These people were called “sodbusters”

After a while farmers realized After a while farmers realized they didn't have it so good.they didn't have it so good.

There were a lot more There were a lot more farmers growing more farmers growing more food, and the prices food, and the prices they could sell they could sell products for dropped – products for dropped – a lot.a lot.

New machines cost New machines cost money.money.

Railroads were Railroads were charging more to store charging more to store and ship products.and ship products.

So they started to organize a little So they started to organize a little bitbit

Farmers formed Farmers formed granges - groups of granges - groups of farmers who farmers who organized and tried to organized and tried to come up with solution come up with solution to issues.to issues.

And, they formed And, they formed cooperativescooperatives - farmers - farmers who would work who would work together to bring together to bring down their costs and down their costs and increase their profits.increase their profits.

These farmers were dealing These farmers were dealing with with the law of supply and the law of supply and

demanddemand ThereThere’’s a balance s a balance

between what between what businesses want businesses want for a product and for a product and what people are what people are willing to pay for a willing to pay for a product.product.

By the late 1880By the late 1880’’s, the open s, the open plains had pretty much plains had pretty much

disappeareddisappeared Barbed wire had Barbed wire had

been invented – no been invented – no more open range.more open range.

Railroads had begun Railroads had begun to divide up areas.to divide up areas.

There was only one There was only one area left which area left which might still be open might still be open to settlement….to settlement….

The Indian TerritoryThe Indian TerritoryWhere Native Americans had been sent at Where Native Americans had been sent at the time of Andrew Jackson and the Indian the time of Andrew Jackson and the Indian Removal Act – to what we call Oklahoma Removal Act – to what we call Oklahoma

today.today.

It was decided that on April 22It was decided that on April 22ndnd, , 1889….1889….

Anyone who wanted Anyone who wanted land in the territory land in the territory could go in and could go in and claim it. claim it.

This is when it This is when it officially changed officially changed from Indian from Indian Territory to the Territory to the Oklahoma Territory.Oklahoma Territory.

Photo of the state line – right Photo of the state line – right when it was time to claim when it was time to claim

some land ?some land ?

Some people didnSome people didn’’t want to wait and t want to wait and snuck in snuck in soonersooner than they were than they were

supposed tosupposed to