how did farmers on the plains struggle to make a living?
TRANSCRIPT
Farming in the West
How did farmers on the Plains struggle to make a living?
The Homestead Act
• Using the documents of Daniel Freedman, figure out the purpose and requirements for the Homestead Act
Homesteading
• The Homestead Act of 1862 motivated many to move west because it offered 160 acre plot to anyone who lived on the land for 5 years.
• Thousands became homesteaders receiving free land from the government on the Great Plains. Dry conditions made it hard to grow enough grain for profit.
Frontier Settlements: 1870-1890
Frontier Settlements: 1870-1890
Homesteads From Public LandsHomesteads From Public Lands
Homesteading
• Farms meant more shipping for railroads who began giving away 180 million acres of land to people from the U.S. Ireland, Germany and Scandinavia
A Hard Life
• Land further west was dry, but the soil of the Plains was fertile and covered with sod (surface layer of earth. Bricks were made once the material was hardened to build homes, which were cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
A Hard Life
• In 1877, John Deere created the steel plow. Sodbusters, as they were known used drills to bury seeds, reapers to harvest crops, and threshers to beat the grain.
• Farmers also used windmills to pump water.
New AgriculturalTechnology
New AgriculturalTechnology
“Prairie Fan”Water Pump
Steel Plow [“Sod Buster”]
Farm Families
• Role of Men: labored long hours
• Role of Children: tended animals and helped with chores
• Role of Women: kept house, helped plant and harvest, taught, sewed cooked etc
Exodusters
• Thousands of Exodusters came to the Plains.
• They were known as Exodusters because they felt they were like the Jews fleeing slavery in Egypt (Bible: Book of Exodus)
“Exoduster”Homesteaders
AF AM Moving West
Spanish Speaking Farmers
• Many had been there since before the Mexican-American War
• Mexican immigrants arrived with the coming of the railroads
• Large landowners were known as ricos
Sooners
• The federal government opened up what was once NA Territory in Oklahoma to homesteaders or “boomers” in April 1889.
• A few people known as sooners snuck onto the land early grabbing the best land.
Farmers
• Granges were groups of farmers who met for lectures, sewing bees, and other events. In 1867, local granges joined together to form the National Grange
• Grangers demanded the same low RR and warehouse rates that were given to large farmers
Farmers
• Farm cooperatives were groups of farmers who pooled their money to make large purchases of supplies
• Unhappy farmers joined with the labor unions to form the Populist Party, which pushed for social reform
Extra Credit Opportunity
1. Create a poster to lure people to the West.
2. You must choose ONE group from your Ch 17 notes: NOT NATIVES
3. Title4. Slogan to get them to go to the
West.5. Colorful, neat, easy to read!6. Due Wednesday before test +5