American West - HOMESTEADERS 5.0 / 5 based on 1 ratingTeacher recommended ? HistoryThe American West 1840-1895GCSEOCR Created by: JellyfishCreated on: 01-06-13 09:11 REASONS FOR MOVING TO THE WEST PUSH FACTORS: Poverty - caused by the Economic Depression of 1837 Regious or social persecution - i.e. the Mormons Eastern overpopulation - due to the increasing migration of Europeans PULL FACTORS: A new start - for freed slaves & Ex-soldiers of the Civil war (1861-1865) Free land - Homestead Act of 1862 gave 160 acres of land if it's occupied for 5 years Exaggerated claims (by politicians and railway companies) about the good life on the Plains ENABLING FACTORS: Railways - enabled a speedy and safe journey & linked producers to wider markets Reservations - minimised Indian attacks 1 of 2 SOLUTIONS & PROBLEMS PROBLEMS: Lack of wood for housing, fuel, fencing Lack of water Land - too hard for light ploughs Crops failed Isolation - due to the vast spaces in between houses No shops to buy household items SOLUTIONS: Housing - used dried earth to make sod houses Fuel - dried buffalo dung & cow-pats collected by women Fencing - barbed wire - Joseph Glidden, 1874 (important in keeping cattle off the crops) Wind pumps & dry-farming (retained the moisture after snow/ rain) 'Sodbuster' plough - John Deere New Crops were tried - Turkey Red Wheat from Russia Women formed church groups and helped each other in childbirth Women made soaps, candles, clothing ...etc... 2 of 2
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