Exploitation Of The GP

Question 1

What did the homestead act do?

Answer 1

Gave each settler 160 acres of free land if they farmed for 5 years
The condition of farming for 5 years was to try and discourage land speculators

Question 2

What was the Pacific Railroad act?

Answer 2

Approved the first transcontinental railroad to encourage settlement in the west and make transportation of material easier

Question 3

What was life on the plains like?

Answer 3

The soil was fertile but the thick top layer of earth was too hard for ploughing
Lack of water
Extreme weathers and fires

Question 4

What better machinery was developed that improved making crops?

Answer 4

In the 1830s John Deere developed a stronger steel plough
Wind pumps increased the supply of water
Barbed wire in 1874

Question 5

What was turkey red wheat?

Answer 5

Brought over by Russia in around 1874 and was well suited to growing on the plains

Question 6

What food began to grow popular in the 1850’s?

Answer 6

Beef (cattle ranches were set up to meet the demand)

Question 7

What were the four main cattle trails?

Answer 7

Goodnight-Living trail
Western trail
Chisholm trail
Shawnee trail

Question 8

What did Joseph McCoy do?

Answer 8

He set up the first cow town Abilene