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- Recognize cause and effect - Recognize cause and effect relationships.relationships.

- Describe how farmers were able to - Describe how farmers were able to settlesettle

in the West during the 19 in the West during the 19thth Century. Century.

QuizQuiz

Factors Contributing to Agricultural Factors Contributing to Agricultural Settlement of the WestSettlement of the West

Land grantsLand grants– Homestead Act (1862) – gave 160 acres to Homestead Act (1862) – gave 160 acres to

settlers who would live on and improve the settlers who would live on and improve the land for at least five years.land for at least five years.

– Problem?Problem? much of the land was poor for farming, or much of the land was poor for farming, or

excluded since it was already settled or excluded since it was already settled or owned by the railroads.owned by the railroads.

– Success?Success? 375,000 homesteads claimed by 1890.375,000 homesteads claimed by 1890.

Homestead Act land grant

Factors Contributing to Agricultural Factors Contributing to Agricultural Settlement of the WestSettlement of the West

Land grantsLand grants– Oklahoma Land Giveaway (1889)Oklahoma Land Giveaway (1889) – – within within

one day, over two million acres claimed by one day, over two million acres claimed by “Nooners” and “Sooners” (claimed early).“Nooners” and “Sooners” (claimed early).

Oklahoma Land Rush (1889)““Nooners vs. Sooners”Nooners vs. Sooners”

Factors Contributing to Agricultural Factors Contributing to Agricultural Settlement of the WestSettlement of the West

Various Groups Encouraged SettlementVarious Groups Encouraged Settlement– Newspapers reported opportunity for all.Newspapers reported opportunity for all.– Land and steamship companies sent agents to Land and steamship companies sent agents to

Europe to “sell” America.Europe to “sell” America.– Immigrant associations encouraged it.Immigrant associations encouraged it.– Railroads advertised farm lands for sale.Railroads advertised farm lands for sale.

Factors Contributing to Agricultural Factors Contributing to Agricultural Settlement of the WestSettlement of the West

Various Groups Encouraged SettlementVarious Groups Encouraged Settlement– Newspapers reported opportunity for all.Newspapers reported opportunity for all.– Land and steamship companies sent agents to Land and steamship companies sent agents to

Europe to “sell” America.Europe to “sell” America.– Railroads advertised farm lands for sale.Railroads advertised farm lands for sale.– Blacks created a folk movement called Blacks created a folk movement called

Exodus, settling in KS, NE as “exodusters”.Exodus, settling in KS, NE as “exodusters”.

““Exoduster”Exoduster”HomesteadersHomesteaders

Factors Contributing to AgriculturalFactors Contributing to Agricultural Settlement of the West Settlement of the West

By force in some cases:By force in some cases:– Whites seized communal Hispanic lands by Whites seized communal Hispanic lands by

force, then by law using the force, then by law using the Santa Fe Ring.Santa Fe Ring.– Las Gorras BlancasLas Gorras Blancas (white caps) reacted by (white caps) reacted by

raiding white settlements, cutting fences, raiding white settlements, cutting fences, destroying railroad property.destroying railroad property.

Difficulties Facing SettlersDifficulties Facing Settlers

Scarcity of trees meant settlers had to use Scarcity of trees meant settlers had to use available materials for building and fuel.available materials for building and fuel.

Interior of sod house – photograph taken in 1923, North Dakota

Difficulties Facing SettlersDifficulties Facing Settlers

Scarcity of trees meant settlers had to use Scarcity of trees meant settlers had to use available materials for building and fuel.available materials for building and fuel.

Water had to be transported over great Water had to be transported over great distances.distances.

Sense of loneliness.Sense of loneliness. Need for fencing to protect fields/livestock.Need for fencing to protect fields/livestock.

Joseph Glidden

Patent for barb wire

Difficulties Facing SettlersDifficulties Facing Settlers

Scarcity of trees meant settlers had to use Scarcity of trees meant settlers had to use available materials for building and fuel.available materials for building and fuel.

Water had to be transported over great Water had to be transported over great distances.distances.

Sense of loneliness.Sense of loneliness. Need for fencing to protect fields/livestock.Need for fencing to protect fields/livestock. Aridity of the Great Plains.Aridity of the Great Plains. Tough sod of the Great Plains required special Tough sod of the Great Plains required special

equipment to plow, plant and harvest.equipment to plow, plant and harvest. Outside forces oftentimes caused failure such as Outside forces oftentimes caused failure such as

drought, competition, and costs of farming.drought, competition, and costs of farming.

Homesteads From Public LandsHomesteads From Public LandsHomesteads From Public LandsHomesteads From Public Lands

Frederick Jackson TurnerFrederick Jackson TurnerFrederick Jackson TurnerFrederick Jackson Turner

The Significance of the The Significance of the Frontier Frontier

in American Societyin American Society (1893)(1893)

Turner Thesis argued that the frontier had “closed” or settled by 1890.