Homesteaders Flashcards
Why was dirt and disease a problem and how did people adapt?
Sod houses leaked, and fleas and bed bugs lived in them
It was impossible to disinfect the floor, death rate was high- particularly due to diphtheria
People adapted by using a thick coat of ‘white wash’ to kill bed bugs, and a layer of clay stopped leaks
Eventually more modern houses were built
What did women homesteaders use as fuel?
Buffalo chips
What is dry farming?
The soil is ploughed after heavy rain, then a thin layer of dust is put on the surface to retain moisture
What is the name of the variety of wheat that could be grown on the Plains?
Turkey Red Wheat
What is the name of the plough used by homesteaders and who invented it?
The sod-buster, invented by John Deere
How did homesteaders overcome the lack of water?
They built wind pumps
What was the role of female homesteaders?
Cleaning, cooking, help husband, teaching children to read and write, looking after the sick, making clothes and candles etc from available materials
How was a sod house made?
Clumps of earth cut into blocks were used as bricks, windows and a door were added. A roof was made from grass and sods, once the house was constructed a clay like mud was applied to the walls, it set and made the house watertight
