Farming Thrives Essential Questions: How does geography influence the way people live?

Vocabulary Dry Farming (Requires less water) – A farming approach that uses careful plowing to keep loose soil on top, slowing evaporation to keep soil moist

Vocabulary Tenant Farmer (Rents Land) – A farmer who works land owned by another and pays rent either in cash or in shares of the crop Sharecropper (Paid with a share of the crops profits) – A farmer who, in exchange for labor, is provided with seed, tools, living quarters, and food and receives a share of the value of the crop

Farming Thrives Farmers settled in the Panhandle and West Texas, where land was plentiful and cheap, although not ideal for farming. They turned to the practice of dry farming to make the most of limited rainfall. In order to rest the soil to help preserve its moisture, farmers would leave a field fallow (unplanted) for one or more growing seasons.

Farming Thrives After the Civil War, a number of factors led to the growth of the Texas cotton industry, such as increased demand. The expansion of railroads helped draw settlers to the frontier.

Windmills Windmills were adopted in the late 1800s by farmers planting in drier areas of Texas. Wind turned the wheel, which generated power to pump water from the ground. Do you think windmills were needed more in East Texas or West Texas? Why?

Farming Thrives While some farmers thrived, others faced difficulty in farming for many reasons, including poor management, planting the wrong crops, and natural disasters that ruined crops. Boll Weevil

Farming Thrives After the Civil War, tenant farming replaced enslaved labor. Former enslaved African Americans became tenant farmers, who paid rent in the form of a portion of the crops they grew. Farmers who borrowed seeds and equipment as well as renting land from landowners were called sharecroppers.

Farming Thrives Many people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds became tenant farmers or sharecroppers. Tenant farming arose in Texas after the Civil War because of a shortage of money since it allowed people to barter labor for goods.

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Farming Thrives Many saw the tenant system as a way to become landowners; however, high rents left farmers in debt, and many continued to struggle financially.

hill.com/ssh/book.lesson.do?bookId=C2HODWDOVGDS1LZ8SRKG239B5E&nodeId= K98GJ7GFLVJHZ8E9V9OWN9J3DM View this video examining the challenges sharecroppers faced to earn a living.

What is the most likely outcome of the sequence of events described? A.The sharecropper becomes tied to one plantation and works for less and less each year. B.Sharecroppers are able to buy their own farms. C.The landowner is imprisoned for illegal business practices. D.The U.S. issues bonds to sharecroppers to make up the difference in wages earned. A The answer is:

Farming Thrives When cotton farming expanded in India and Egypt, the world cotton supply also increased, which led to lower cotton prices everywhere.

Farming Thrives Despite its difficulties, farming remained dominant in Texas and led to the growth of new towns and existing communities.

Quiz A A 1. Farmers who settled in the Panhandle and West Texas turned to the practice of _____ to make the most of limited rainfall. A. dry farming B. irrigation C. sharecropping D. tenant farming 2. In order to rest the soil to help preserve its moisture, farmers would leave a field ____ for one or more growing seasons. A. fallow B. irrigated C. tilled D. without water

Quiz D C 3. Following the Civil War, former enslaved African Americans became _____, who paid rent in the form of a portion of the crops they grew. A. dry farmers B. landowners C. migrant workers D. tenant farmers 4. Farmers who borrowed seeds and equipment as well as renting land from landowners were called _____. A.creditors B.renters C.sharecroppers D.tenant farmers

Quiz B C 5. For farming in the Panhandle and West Texas to succeed, farmers had to choose crops suited for _____. A. buffalo food B. a dry climate C. sharecropping D. a short growing season 6. The expansion of ____ helped draw settlers to the frontier. A. coal mining B. Native Americans C. railroads D. rice farming

Quiz B C 7. The most important crop in Texas after the Civil War was _____. A. corn B. cotton C. rice D. sugarcane 8. When cotton farming expanded in _____, the world cotton supply also increased, which led to lower cotton prices everywhere. A. Britain and France B. Georgia and Tennessee C. India and Egypt D. Mississippi and Missouri

Quiz B C 9. Tenant farming arose in Texas after the Civil War because of a shortage of _____ since it allowed people to barter labor for goods. A. land B. money C. seeds D. workers 10. Many tenant farmers and sharecroppers ended the year _____. A. breaking even B. having to leave the farm and seek work elsewhere C. in debt D. with enough money to buy their own seed and supplies