1. 18.4: Farming Communities on the Plains

2. A. The Homestead Act 1.160 acres were given to any settler who lived on the land for at least 5 years and improved it. a.Nearly half of all homesteaders failed to improve the land and lost their claims. b.Homesteaders had their greatest success in the central and upper Midwest where the soil was rich and the weather was relatively moderate. 2.This act sparked the largest migration in U.S. history but only 10 percent of all farmers got their start under its terms (most farmers bought their land outright). a.Railroads and speculators were able to cash in by selling land to farmers. - Farmers were willing to pay hefty prices.

3. B. Populating the Plains 1.Railroads held great power in developing and settling the West. - Railroads delivered crops and cattle to eastern markets and brought back goods. 2.Railroads put communities “on the map.” a.Railroads in the West preceded settlement. b.Professional promoters were sent to Europe and throughout the United States to recruit settlers. c.Towns along the railroad lines flourished. 3.Immigrants formed tight-knit communities. - Many groups retained their native languages and customs.

4. In 1887, Lizzie Chrisman filed the first homestead claim on Lieban Creek in Custer County, Nebraska. Joined by her three sisters, she is shown here standing in front of her sod cabin. “Soddies,” as these small houses were called, were constructed of stacked layers of cut prairie turf, which were eventually fortified by a thick network of roots. The roofs, often supported by timber, were usually covered with more sod, straw, and small branches. SOURCE:Photograph by Solomon D.Butcher.Nebraska Historical Society.

5. C. Work, Dawn to Dusk 1.Farm families survived and prospered through hard work. a.Men’s work tended to be seasonal. b.Women’s activities were usually more routine. c.Children worked running errands and completing chores by about age nine. 2.Community was an important part of life. - People depended on neighbors for help in times of need and for a break from the hard work and harsh climate. 3.The barter system developed due to lack of cash.