1. How did farmers on the Plains struggle to make a living?
Farming in the West
How did farmers on the Plains struggle to make a living?

2. The Homestead Act
Using the documents of Daniel Freedman, figure out the purpose and requirements for the Homestead Act

3. 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.

4. Frontier Settlements: 1870-1890

5. Homesteads From Public Lands

6. 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

7. 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.

11. 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.

12. Steel Plow [“Sod Buster”] “Prairie Fan” Water Pump
New Agricultural Technology
Steel Plow [“Sod Buster”]
“Prairie Fan” Water Pump

13. 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

14. 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)

15. “Exoduster” Homesteaders

16. AF AM Moving West

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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

20. The National Grange

21. 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

22. Extra Credit Opportunity
Create a poster to lure people to the West.
You must choose ONE group from your Ch 17 notes: NOT NATIVES
Title
Slogan to get them to go to the West.
Colorful, neat, easy to read!
Due Wednesday before test +5