2. I.) Government Help Settlers Move West A. Homestead Act of 1862- act passed by Congress offering 160 acres of free land to any citizen or head of household - Exodusters- African-Americans who move West from South B. Problems: 1. Railroads & Govt. gobble up land 2. Ranchers fence off land 3. Miners & Woodcutters claim natural resources

3. C. Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889-as part of the Homestead Act, federal govt. offers a major land giveaway in Oklahoma 1. in less than one day settler claim 2 million acres

4. II.) Life on the Plains A. Settlers face droughts, floods, fires, dust storms, & raids by outlaws or Native Americans B. Trees are scarce = build home from land itself 1. Soddy- home made by settlers by sod C.Women’s Role 1. worked the land, prepared food, cared for home, and raised the children

5. III.) Agriculture Inventions 1837 John Deere invents steel plow 1847 Cyrus McCormick invents reaping machine 1869 Spring-tooth Harrow to prep soil 1841 Grain drill to plant seed 1874 Joseph Glidden invents barbed wire 1878 Corn binder and reaper Outcome: 1. more grain available 2. need for more farmland!

6. IV.) Agricultural Assistance A.) Morrill Act of 1862 & 1890- federal govt. gives land to states to establish agricultural colleges B.) Hatch Act of 1887- established experiment stations for development of new agricultural tools 1. Great Plains nickname: “the Breadbasket of the Nation”