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Published byRhoda Watkins Modified over 9 years ago
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Take notes Only take notes on new material New material will be in blue
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_____ land that rose gradually from _____ to west Land eroded by _____ and _____ _____ rainfall Frequent _____ storms FLAT EAST WIND WATER LOW DUST
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* Before the Civil War the Great Plains was seen as a treeless wasteland * After the Civil War new technology changed this view of the Great Plains and it was considered a vast area to be settled
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____________was used to keep cattle in and predators out A ______________ would make it possible to cultivate the hard soil _______________ was perfect for crops like wheat and barley Since there was no wood, houses in the Great Plains was made of _______________.
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Because of the _______________, people no longer had to depend on water ways as the only means of fast, cheap travel. _______________ were used to pull water out of the ground for animals and people. Large amounts of _______________ could be raised and shipped back east for processing.
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People had a variety of reasons to move west Opportunities to own land through the __________ Act. The possibility of finding __________ in California and the Rocky Mountains The feeling of discovery and __________ __________ wanted a fresh start away from the discrimination in the east New __________ made it easier to live out west Homestead Gold and Silver Adventure!! Former Slaves Inventions
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The Homestead Act, passed in 1862, promised 180 acres of land to anyone that would farm it for ??? years Small filing fee FREE LAND!!
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Problems with Homesteading Immigrants and easterners rushed west for free land Not many had the money to move west and start a farm Only about 20% of the land actually went to small farmers Most of it went to large companies who sold it at high prices
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Exodusters African Americans Moved west to escape discrimination they faced in the south at the end of Reconstruction A large group moved to Kansas in 1879 40,000-70,000 moved by 1881 Named themselves Exodusters after the chapter in the Bible, Exodus
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Last major rush took place in Oklahoma Government forced the Natives to sell their land and move Farmers could claim free homesteads in Oklahoma, but not until noon on April 22, 1889
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100,000 people lined the OK boarder A gunshot sounded at noon and people took off! “Boomers” (those who left at noon) arrived to find the “Sooners” had snuck over the boarder in the night and claimed the much of the best land
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Shelter Very little trees so farmers began building housed out of sod, soil held together by grass roots Sod houses had problems Leaked when it rained Snakes damp
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Sodbusting The sod that covered the Great Plains could crack a wood or iron plow A new steel plow allowed farmers to bust through the sod and plant their fields That’s why they are known as “sodbusters” Windmills helped bring up water that laid deep underground Reapers, threshing machines and binders helped harvest crops.
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Surviving the Climate Dry climate was a threat Could kill crops Fire that could travel “as fast as a horse could run” Grasshoppers Horrible winters that buried people and animals inside their homes
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Women on the Plains Had to be strong Made everything by hand Soap Clothes Candles Preserved food for winter Other goods
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Women on the Plains Most school teachers were women Tended to the sick if there were no doctors Lived miles apart Church, picnics, dances, and weddings were big deals!
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The Category is REGIONS? Question: What region would former slaves leave?
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The Category is Westward Expansion: the Video. During the Westward Expansion rap, we learned that Native Americans had to adapt to the white American culture. What vocabulary term means “to adapt to another’s culture?” Hint: It begins with the letter “A”
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