A Hundred and Sixty Acres I got a hundred and sixty acres in the valley Got a hundred and sixty acres of the best Got an old stove there that'll cook three square And a bunk where I can lay me down to rest. Up at dawn to greet the sun I've forgotten what a care or worry means Head for home when day is done With my pocket money jinglin' in my jeans. I´ve got a hundred and sixty acres full of sunshine Got a hundred and sixty million stars above Got an old paint hoss, I'm the guy who's boss On the hundred and sixty acres that I love! What does it suggest about homesteading? From your knowledge, is it accurate? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJyDhbnIIN8

What can you infer from this source about what life was like for the Homesteaders? In regard to this extensive section of the country, I do not hesitate in giving the opinion, that it is almost wholly unfit for cultivation, and of course uninhabitable by a people depending upon agriculture for their subsistence…the scarcity of wood and water will prove an insuperable obstacle in the way of settling in the West. Everyone fights for the smallest piece of land. How will we survive? A description of the Great Plains by Major Stephen Long, 1819-20

Why did the homesteaders want to settle on the plains? To identify the groups of people who became homesteaders To examine the role of the US Government and Railroad companies in encouraging the movement West To evaluate the importance of the government in encouraging the homesteaders to settle on the Plains.

Who became homesteaders and why?

Young men with a sense of adventure and no other commitments could group together and claim large amounts of land

Families would all move West and share the back Breaking work

of sisters would move West but this was more unusual Women – usually groups of sisters would move West but this was more unusual

Why might ex-slaves want to move West?

Ex-Civil War soldiers became Homesteaders after the war Ended and they were no longer needed in the army

advertised heavily for Railroad companies advertised heavily for people to move West and they even advertised abroad in places like Eastern Europe where people wanted to escape poverty

What was the Homestead Act 1862? Settlers allowed to have free of charge 160 acres of land The terms stated that homesteaders had to build a house on the land and live there for five years. After that time they would receive the deeds to land. 1873 - the act was extended through the Timber Culture Act. This provided another 160 acres of land as long as 40 acres were planted with trees. This was later reduced to 10 acres.

TASK Why did so many people want to settle on the plains? P83-84 What was the role of the Government? - Homestead Act, Timber Culture Act, Land Act   What role did the end of the American Civil war have? What was the role of the building of the transcontinental railroad? TASK P83-84 LO: To examine the role of the US Government and Railroad companies in encouraging the movement West What were the push and pull factors?

What do you think motivated the Homesteaders to settle in the West? Pull factors Offer of land Start of a new life / adventure Advertising by railroad companies Letters from those already living there Push factors People came from Europe escaping poor quality land, poverty, unemployment, persecution (Jews from Russia) Soldiers returning from the civil war Ex-salves seeking a new life away from slavery Economic problems, failure of crops, people hungry

Paragraph 1: First killer point Paragraph 2: Second killer point In what ways was the Government important to the successful settlement of the whites on the Great Plains from 1862? (8 marks) How would you answer this question? Paragraph 1: First killer point Paragraph 2: Second killer point

Mark Scheme Level 1 – Identify or describe one reason why it was important (1 – 2 marks) Level 2 – Simple reasoning to briefly explain why it was important (3 – 4 marks) Level 3 – Reasoned explanation of 2 or more reasons why it was important (5 – 6 marks) Level 4 – Complex explanation of importance with specific details and evaluation of the impact of the change (7-8 marks)

What mark would you give this answer? In what ways was the Government important to the successful settlement of the whites on the Great Plains from 1862? One way that the Government was important to the success of settling on the Plains was the land acts which were passed to support families migrating West. The US Government realised that they needed to populate the West and to help with this the Homestead Act was passed in 1862. It promised families 160 acres of land for free, provided they cultivated the land. In 1875 the Government enacted the Timber Culture Act which gave settlers a further 160 acres of free land provided they planted 40 acres with trees. This helped with the success because it made sure areas of land were being cultivated to provide wood which would help with building materials.   Level 1 – Identify or describe one reason why it was important (1 – 2 marks) Level 2 – Simple reasoning to briefly explain why it was important (3 – 4 marks) Level 3 – Reasoned explanation of 2 or more reasons why it was important (5 – 6 marks) Level 4 – Complex explanation of importance with specific details and evaluation of the impact of the change (7-8 marks) Print off

5m 2nd point: Your turn… Level 1 – Identify or describe one reason why it was important (1 – 2 marks) Level 2 – Simple reasoning to briefly explain why it was important (3 – 4 marks) Level 3 – Reasoned explanation of 2 or more reasons why it was important (5 – 6 marks) Level 4 – Complex explanation of importance with specific details and evaluation of the impact of the change (7-8 marks) EXPLAIN why the government building of the transcontinental railroad was important to the successful settlement of the whites. TIP: Lots of people describe a change, but do not explain the effect of this. This is a cause and consequence question… This happened and it led to… BECAUSE… LO: To evaluate the importance of the government in encouraging the Homesteaders to settle on the Plains.

Green pen 2. Address key dates! 1. Make your POINT CLEAR! Another way that the Government was important for the successful settlement of the whites on the Plains was by enacting the Pacific Railroad Act in 1862. This was the first Transcontinental Railroad which ran across the US from East to West. Before the building of the railroads, settlers struggled with the crossing of the Great Plains. They had to adapt to the extremes in weather, lack of resources and the hardships of the natural boundaries of the Plains. In addition, land either side of the railroads was sold cheaply to the settlers which would have benefitted them financially. People and important supplies such as building materials and machinery could now be transported with ease across the plains. 3. Show you understand the impact of the change! 4. Add contextual knowledge! LO: To evaluate the importance of the government in encouraging the Homesteaders to settle on the Plains.

Create a propaganda poster encouraging the Homesteaders to settle on the Plains You might want to target different groups of people such as - slaves - women - families - ex-soldiers You need to make the plains look incredible You will need to encourage them - Homestead Act - Timber Culture Act - Railroad