Farming on the Great Plains: identify 2 states in the Great Plains

The Homestead Act: 1862 – It gave 160 acres of land those who would settle and live on the land for 5 years. Why do you think Congress did this? (especially in 1862 – What was going on in our country?)

Sodbusters/Homesteaders: farmers on the Great Plains in late 1800s/early 1900s Sod: a layer of thick, hard soil held together by grass roots

Exodusters: African Americans who traveled to the west after Reconstruction (mainly to Kansas). They left (exit the South to avoid the Jim Crow laws.)

Dry Farming: planting the seed deep in the ground where there was some moisture (Unfortunately, this was not very successful.)

Why was the invention of barbed wire so important to the farmers Why was the invention of barbed wire so important to the farmers? (think 160 acres of land)

Farming became a big business on the Great Plains (America’s bread basket) John Deere – designed a steel plow Cyrus McCormick – invented a reaper to cut and harvest grain 2 years – 18,760 – 49,000 New strong red wheat from Russia

Oklahoma “Sooners” Thousands of settlers who rushed to claim the land in the Midwest (now Oklahoma) before President Cleveland officially announced this land open on April 22, 1889. (Native Americans inhabited this land. What do you think will happen to many of them?)

The Grange & the Populist party Farmers began to organize to improve their lives. Between 1860 – 1890, more land was turned into farmland than between 1607 – 1860. This political party formed in 1890s that wanted a policy that would raise crop prices – why do you think that the farmers would want their crop prices higher?

Life as a homesteaders: Role of Women: Farm Life: Played a central role in settling the frontier Worked besides men on the farm Hand made many items their families wore, ate, and used Taught their children before schools Skilled in offering medical care Able to claim their own land (about 5% of public land claims were women) Wyoming granted women the right to vote and serve on juries Your own 160 acres! Life was not easy – winter – deep snow; summer, winds & very high temperatures Wood and water shortages Blizzards, tornadoes, grasshoppers, drought Technological improvements were made to offer help and make farming more efficient Farmers began to organize

Morrill Act It gave states in the Plains large land grants: 17 million acres to establish agricultural colleges At those schools farmers could learn the best and newest methods of farming Example: Texas A&M (agriculture and manufacturing)

The Frontier Closes: In 1890 – 17 million people lived between the Mississippi and the Pacific. The U.S.A. Census Bureau declared that the frontier no longer existed!

Venn Diagram Cowhands Homesteaders

Reasons for becoming a Homesteader or a Rancher/Cowhand (Why?) V Categories: Reasons for becoming a Homesteader or a Rancher/Cowhand (Why?) Who they were? Daily Life (Where they lived?: How they lived?): Tools/Equipment used: Dangers (for example, weather):