Reasons For Settlement On The Plains

Question 1

Population of California was 120,000

Answer 1

1850

Question 2

Settling on the Plains had begun in small numbers rather than just migrating across them

Answer 2

1850s

Question 3

The government encouraged people to settle on the Plains by creating two new territories: Nebraska and Kansas
“Self-governing” windmills are invented making it easier to water out of the ground- this makes it easier to farm on the Plains

Answer 3

1854

Question 4

Population of California was 300,000

Answer 4

1855

Question 5

The American Civil War
During this time 7 southern states left the US due to conflict with the Northern States over how to settle the West and Slavery

Answer 5

1861-65

Question 6

The Homestead Act

Pacific Railroad Act

Answer 6

1862

Question 7

Work begins on the Railroad and railroad companies begin selling land on the Plains to pay for it

Answer 7

1863

Question 8

The Pacific Railroad is complete

Answer 8

1869

Question 9

The Sulky Plough is invented making it easier to plough the hard land on the Plains

Answer 9

1875

Question 10

6 million acres of government land had become Homestead land due to the Homestead Act
Timber Culture Act is passed- allowed homesteaders to claim an extra 160 acres of land if they planted trees on the land

Answer 10

1876

Question 11

The Railroad companies had sold 200 million acres of land in the West

Answer 11

1880