Development of the plains c.1862 - c.1876 Flashcards
What was the Homestead Act? When was it created?
1862 - encouraged settlement of the West by providing 160 acres land as incentive
What was the Timber Culture Act 1873?
gave hmstdrs further 160 acres of land, if 40 acres planted with trees
Who was allowed to claim land from the Homestead & Timber Culture Act?
Unionists - on winning side of ACW
What percentage of people who tried homesteading went back home?
60%
Name one impact of the Homestead Act 1862.
migrants faced extreme weather conditions eg. droughts & prairie fires
What was the transcontinental railroad?
railway line crossing entirety of NA from Atlanic to Pacific Ocean
How was the transcontinental railroad built?
through Pacific Railroad Act 1862
What was the Pacific Railroad Act 1862?
incentivised private companies to build trnscntnntl railroad
Name 3 reasons why Lincoln want to build a trnscntnntal railroad?
promote settlement of West - fufill Manifest Destiny
enforce law & order
trade with Asia & Far East
What impact did the railroad have on settlers & farming?
positive - intergrated western territories into the USA, achieving MD
What impact did the railroad have on Plains Indians?
negative - decline in no. of buffalo, limiting ability having nomadic lifestyle & PI attacked railroad surveyors = conflict with US army
What impact did the railroad have nationally?
mostly positive - connected the east & west of US, also allowed USA trade with Asia
What impact did the railroad have on the cattle industry?
positive - Texas cattlemen could easily transport & sell cattle @ high prices in cities
When were ‘self governing’ windmills invented?
1854
When were steel blades invented?
1870
What was the purpose of ‘self governing’ windmills and steel blades?
pump H2O out of ground -> help farmers irrigate land
What was problem that was overcome by ‘self governing’ windmills and steel blades?
shortage of H2O
What was the advantage of ‘self governing’ windmills and steel blades?
pump H2O out of 30ft deep wells
What was the disadvantage of ‘self governing’ windmills and steel blades?
not pwrfl enough -> pump H2O
Who discovered Turkey Red? Where did it grow well?
Mennonites - Kansas farms