Farming in the West After 1865

1. Farming in the West After 1865

2. Objectives Identify what attracted farmers to the Great Plains. Describe how people adapted to life on the Plains. Summarize the results of the Oklahoma Land Rush. Explain how economic issues led farmers to organize to seek reform.

3. Terms and People homesteader – settler who acquired free land from the government sod – a surface layer of earth in which the roots of grasses tangle with soil sodbuster – Plains farmer sooner – person who sneaked onto land early during the Oklahoma Land Rush

4. Terms and People(continued) granges – groups of farmers who met for lectures, sewing bees, and other events farm cooperative – group of farmers who pool their money to make large purchases of tools, seed, and other supplies at a discount inflation – general rise in prices William Jennings Bryan – Democratic presidential candidate in 1896; the “Great Commoner”

5. How did farmers on the Plains struggle to make a living? Miners, rail workers, ranchers, and cowhands were not the only people inspired to move west. Half a million farmers lived and worked in the Great Plains by 1900.

6. In 1862, Congress passed a law to give more people the chance to own farms in the West. Homestead Act Gave 160 acres to anyone who lived on the land for five years Conditions on the Plains were so harsh, however, that few homesteaders stayed five years.

7. The railroads were more successful at luring farmers west. More people meant more business. So the railroads gave some of their land away to settlers willing to move west.

8. People from around the country and around the world rushed west to claim free land. Easterners Free land African American Exodusters (oppressed southerners) Europeans

9. Life in the West was difficult. Water was scarce, and crops were difficult to grow.

10. With no wood, families built houses from bricks made of sod. The sodbustershad many jobs to do to help the farm—and the family—survive.

11. New tools and farming methods eventually made life easier. steel plow cut through tough sod drill planted seeds windmill pumped water from the ground reaper harvested crops thresher removed grain coverings

12. Among the new inventions was barbed wire, which was used for fences so cattle and other animals would not trample the crops. crops cattle cattle cattle

13. By the 1880s, little free land was left. In 1889, the government allowed settlers to claim one last open area—what once was Indian Territory—in the Oklahoma Land Rush. Oklahoma sooners boomers sooners “Boomers” lined up to claim free homesteads, but “sooners,” who jumped the gun, claimed most of the best land.

14. By 1890, there was no land left for homesteading and, after gradually moving west, the frontier finally closed. frontier

15. With hard work, many Plains farmers produced bountiful harvests. Crop surpluses, however, drove prices down.

16. Small farmers were hit hard by the drop in prices. Deep in debt, many lost their land. To protest their hardships, farmers joined together in granges and farm cooperatives to demand reforms. Farmers NationalGrange Farmers’ Alliance

17. The National Grange, or just “the Grange,” is a farmer’s advocacy group that was formed in 1867 to press the causes of importance to farmers. It is the oldest agricultural organization in America, with over 300,000 members. The Farmers’ Alliance was an agricultural movement focused on helping farmers work together on many causes, including increasing the price of crops. It was short-lived, giving way to the Populist movement.

18. In 1892, farmers joined with labor unions to form the Populist Party. • Populist Reforms • public ownership of railroads and warehouses • income taxes to replace property taxes • eight-hour workday • use of silver to back the money supply

19. Populists believed that adding silver to the nation’s money standard would trigger inflation. crop prices Rising prices, they hoped, would benefit farmers by bringingmore money for crops.

20. In 1896, the Populists supported William Jennings Bryan for President. Though he won many western states, Bryan lost the election. Populist support soon faded.