Development of the plains c.1862 - c.1876 Flashcards

1
Q

What was the Homestead Act? When was it created?

A

1862 - encouraged settlement of the West by providing 160 acres land as incentive

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2
Q

What was the Timber Culture Act 1873?

A

gave hmstdrs further 160 acres of land, if 40 acres planted with trees

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3
Q

Who was allowed to claim land from the Homestead & Timber Culture Act?

A

Unionists - on winning side of ACW

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4
Q

What percentage of people who tried homesteading went back home?

A

60%

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5
Q

Name one impact of the Homestead Act 1862.

A

migrants faced extreme weather conditions eg. droughts & prairie fires

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6
Q

What was the transcontinental railroad?

A

railway line crossing entirety of NA from Atlanic to Pacific Ocean

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7
Q

How was the transcontinental railroad built?

A

through Pacific Railroad Act 1862

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8
Q

What was the Pacific Railroad Act 1862?

A

incentivised private companies to build trnscntnntl railroad

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9
Q

Name 3 reasons why Lincoln want to build a trnscntnntal railroad?

A

promote settlement of West - fufill Manifest Destiny
enforce law & order
trade with Asia & Far East

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10
Q

What impact did the railroad have on settlers & farming?

A

positive - intergrated western territories into the USA, achieving MD

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11
Q

What impact did the railroad have on Plains Indians?

A

negative - decline in no. of buffalo, limiting ability having nomadic lifestyle & PI attacked railroad surveyors = conflict with US army

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12
Q

What impact did the railroad have nationally?

A

mostly positive - connected the east & west of US, also allowed USA trade with Asia

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13
Q

What impact did the railroad have on the cattle industry?

A

positive - Texas cattlemen could easily transport & sell cattle @ high prices in cities

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14
Q

When were ‘self governing’ windmills invented?

A

1854

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15
Q

When were steel blades invented?

A

1870

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16
Q

What was the purpose of ‘self governing’ windmills and steel blades?

A

pump H2O out of ground -> help farmers irrigate land

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17
Q

What was problem that was overcome by ‘self governing’ windmills and steel blades?

A

shortage of H2O

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18
Q

What was the advantage of ‘self governing’ windmills and steel blades?

A

pump H2O out of 30ft deep wells

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19
Q

What was the disadvantage of ‘self governing’ windmills and steel blades?

A

not pwrfl enough -> pump H2O

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20
Q

Who discovered Turkey Red? Where did it grow well?

A

Mennonites - Kansas farms

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21
Q

What was the advantage of new crops eg. Turkey Red?

A

farmers = able to export grain & boost settlement on Plains

22
Q

What was the problem overcome by growing new crops?

A

not knowing suitable -> grow on arid envrnmnt

23
Q

Why was it important for homesteaders to plant trees as part of the Timber Culture Act?

A
  • Trees shelter crops from damage
  • provide settlers w resources
24
Q

How many acres were claimed under the Timber Culture Act, by 1878?

A

16 million acres

25
Q

What was a disadvantage of the Timber Culture Act?

A

Most trees died due to lack of H2O

26
Q

When was barbed wire invented? By who?

A

1874 - Joseph Glidden

27
Q

What was the purpose of barbed wire?

A

effctlvly prevents crops from animals

28
Q

What was an advantage of barbed wire?

A

cheaper than timber

29
Q

What was disadvantage of barbed wire?

A

early types broke & costly

30
Q

When was the Sulky plow invented?

A

1875

31
Q

What problem did the sulky plow overcome?

A

hrsh lnds of tough weeds & prairie grasses

32
Q

What did John Deere invent? When? What did their purpose?

A

1837 - sod buster - dealt with tough grass roots

33
Q

How many sod buster were sold in the first 6 years of their existence?

A

50,000

34
Q

What was a disadvantage of sod busters?

A

walking plough = cheaper & easier -> understand

35
Q

When was dry farming invented? What was it?

A

1879 - technique aimed -> conserves H2O in soil by trapping rainH2O under surface

36
Q

What was an advantage of dry farming?

A

worked well w wheat

37
Q

What was a disadvantage of dry farming?

A

severe droughts in 1890s = stopped bcmng widespread

38
Q

What problem did dry farming mostly overcome?

A

lack of rain

39
Q

When were all metal wind pumps invented?

A

1880’s

40
Q

What was the purpose of all metal wind pumps?

A

-> pump H2O from deep underground

41
Q

What was an advantage of all metal wind pumps?

A

larger blades meant that maximum enrgy = convrtd -> pump H2O

42
Q

What problem did all metal windpumps overcome?

A

lack of H2O collected from underground

43
Q

When were improvements made to barbed wire? What were they?

A

1880s - no longer rusted quickly bc of coating
& new production methods

44
Q

What were the advantages of the improvements made to barbed wire?

A

cheap & effective -> protects crops from livestock

45
Q

Why was claim jumping still a problem?

A

law & order = often far from mines

46
Q

Why were racial attacks still a problem?

A

thousands of Chinese ppl emigrated -> America
black, indian & mexican ppl fcd abuse

47
Q

Why were shootings still a problem?

A

some gun fighters bcme v famous & myths srrndg them bcme widespread

48
Q

Why was cattle rustling still a problem?

A

young cattle = easy -> steal from open range before being branded

49
Q

Why were train robberies still a problem?

A

gangs regularly held up express cars on trains

50
Q

Why were robberies still a problem?

A

stage coaches & travellers could be held up in isolated ares