American West - Homesteaders Flashcards
When was the homestead act?
1862
Who were homesteaders
People who wanted free land
Where do homesteaders settle?
West and all over the Plains but this led to attacks by Indians
Problems they faced
Short water supply (they added a wind pump) Dry land (got better machinery - John Deere sod buster)
Why was the homestead act important
It gave away 160 acres of land for free
People had 5 years to prove they could farm on the land they got given and then they could keep it
The population rose to 60,000+ people in 1862/3
Settled people on Plains, whereas most earlier settlers went on to California
Why was it difficult to farm on the Plains for the homesteaders
Pests - grasshoppers etc used to eat crops Terrain Lack of resources Conflict between miners, Cowboys and railroad companies/workers Indian/Sioux attacks Isolated Lawlessness/no government Extreme weather
How important were women
Women brought families
Set up schools
Calming influence
Put pressure on the government to set up law and order (government brought in sheriffs)
Other factors that helped people settle on the Plains and in the West
Railroad in 1869 brought more people which created towns (with supplies and resources)
John Deere sodbuster encouraged profits
Barbed wire in 1874 stopped cattle/protected the law
Wind pumps for water
When were the homesteaders around?
1862 - 1890’s
What were women’s jobs
Set out gooseberry bushes Dug fish worms and went fishing Killed snakes Made clothes and sneered sheep for the wool Looking after chickens
