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The Realities of Rural America

Delve into the portrayal of rural America in the late 1800s through art, farming narratives, and frontier developments. Learn about the transformation of farms, environmental issues, and the impact of mining on the region.

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The Realities of Rural America

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  1. The Realities of Rural America Chapter 17

  2. Bell Work: Myth or reality? What is being depicted in the picture? Does this represent the reality of rural America in the late 1800s?

  3. What is going on in this picture?

  4. “American Progress,” 1872 • Artist: John Gast • Popular scene of people moving west that captured the view of Americans at the time. • Portrayed settlers moving west, guided and protected by a goddess-like figure and aided by technology (railways, telegraphs), driving Indians and bison into obscurity.

  5. What does a farm look like in the late 1800s?

  6. Farm Productivity…

  7. Mom & Pop farms get the boot…

  8. Innovations…

  9. Birth of the Modern Farm • Twice as many farms • Specialized crops • New innovations • Large scale in size Result of Changes: Independent “yeomen” farmers disappear

  10. Falling prices….

  11. Downside • Dependence on outside forces & demands • Bankers • Middlemen • Railroad • Foreign Competition • Over cultivation

  12. Part I: Farming in the Different Regions Western Plains California Cattle Mining

  13. (1) Life on the Western Plains Land of opportunity OR No man’s Land

  14. Changes that took place… • Innovations • Promotions • Homestead Act

  15. So you want to be a farmer?? • Tenants • Immigrant

  16. Life on the Western Plains • Uncertainty • Machines • Environment/ Weather • Money • Women • Resources (e.g., water)

  17. Let the good times roll… • Diaries , journals, books • O Pioneers (1913) “It seemed beautiful to her, rich and strong and glorious.”

  18. “In God we trusted, In Kansas we busted”… • By the late 1800s & early 1890s…Crisis on the horizon • Falling agriculture prices • No rainfall • Increased debt

  19. Long term Environmental Issues • Top Soil • Water table level

  20. (2) Cattle Frontier….Why not • The birth of the cattle industry… by accident • Military Strategy • Texas

  21. Cattle drivers

  22. Birth of the ranch • Late 1870 & early 1880s • Where? Eastern Colorado Wyoming Montana W. Kansas Nebraska Dakotas

  23. UNITED STATES MAP

  24. Why profitable? • Public Land • Railroad • Cowboys

  25. Mid 1880s…Here comes the farmers… • Public land • Fences • Grass • Weather

  26. Adopting new techniques... • Fence • New feed • New breeds Result: Ranching became a modern business

  27. Ranching Environmental Issues… • Grass • Disappearance of species • Desert land

  28. (3)People came for the gold but stayed for the farming….

  29. Unlike any other region… “Not a county of farms but a country of plantations and estates”

  30. Large scale farming…. • Mexican heritage • Average size of farms: 482 acres v. 153 acres • By 1900, 2/3 of Calif. Farms had how many acres? 100+ 1000+ 10,000+ • Impact on small farmers

  31. Got Water? • Most valuable natural resource • Need to obtain access… developed: Dams Headgates Canals Irrigation ditches

  32. Most valuable crops…. • Grain • Fruits & vegetables

  33. (4) Mining Frontier • Where? Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, & Minnesota • What? Silver, iron, copper, coal, lead, zinc • Popular conception: “49er” • Reality: Relied on machinery, railroad, engineers & large work force

  34. Overall Natural Implications • What was changing? • Soil Erosion • Endangered Species • Drought • Role of the government? • Growing public concern: John Muir

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