Homesteaders Problems and Solutions (1850's until 1879)

Question 1

What problems did the early homesteaders face?

Answer 1

• Isolated/no neighbors
• Soil was difficult to cultivate
• Extreme weather and seasons
• Prairy fires destroying crops
• Buffallo destroyed crops

Question 2

What were problems that were constant throughout 1850-1895 for homesteaders?

Answer 2

• Lack of timber
• Soil cultivation problems
• Weather and temperature problems
• Damage to crops
• Lack of water

Question 3

What were new problems the homesteaders faced around 1889?

Answer 3

• Cattle barons and ranches
• Texas Longhorn fever
• Increase in violence
• Land Infringement

Question 4

What were some of the problems caused by cattle ranchers infringing on homesteaders land?

Answer 4

• Disturbed crops due to infringement of land laws
• Spread of Texas Longhorn fever due to infringement of land laws by cattle ranchers
• Early barbed wire was broken easily

Question 5

What were some problems between Cattle Barons and homesteaders?

Answer 5

• Cattle Barons threatened homesteaders with violence
• Cattle Barons got people to sign up for homesteads for them and combined all the homesteads to create thousands of acres
• Cattle Barons would buy land with water to limit homesteaders supply

Question 6

What did the development of the Pacific Railroad Act in 1862 mean for the homesteaders?

Answer 6

The Pacific Railroad Act (1862) meant that homesteaders could visit relations much more cheaply and easily than before. This reduced the isolation of the homesteaders life

Question 7

Why did the Cattle Barons stop being a problem for the homesteaders?

Answer 7

The Cattle ranchers and Barons were no longer a problem for the Homesteaders after the Great Die Up (1886-87). Many of the Cattle Barons went out of business since all of their cattle died

Question 8

What was the solution to the homesteaders ploughing problems?

Answer 8

In 1875 the sulky plow was invented. This was a ride-one steel plough that made ploughing up tough weeds and prairie soil much easier.

However early ones were unstable and could tip easily

Question 9

What was the solution to the homesteaders ploughing problems?

Answer 9

In 1875 the sulky plow was invented. This was a ride-one steel plough that made ploughing up tough weeds and prairie soil much easier.

However early ones were unstable and could tip easily