The Great Plains

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The Great Plains

• A quick tour

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Location

• The Great Plains are located just east of the
  Rocky Mountains.

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Physical Features

• Flatlands that rise gradually from east to west.
• Land eroded by wind and water.
• Grasslands with few trees.

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Climate

• The climate on the Great Plains is very harsh.
• Low rainfall.
• Many dust storms.
• Harsh winters.

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Before the Civil War

• People referred to the Great Plains as a treeless
  wasteland.
• Few people settled on the Plains, instead they
  passed through on the way west.

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Scenes from the Plains
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So, what changed peoples mind?

• Opportunities for land ownership
• The Homestead Act of 1862.
• For a 10 fee, homesteaders got 160 acres of
  land.
• They had to live on it and farm it for five years
  so they could own it.
• Technological advances
• Possibility of wealth
• New beginning for former slaves
• Adventure

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Inventions
Barbed Wire
Windmills
Steel Plows
Railroads
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Adaptations
Sod Houses
Wheat Farming Dry Farming
Beef Cattle Longhorns
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Windmills

• A windmill is a machine that is operated by wind
  power. Windmills are used chiefly to pump water,
  grind grain and generate electric power.
• Windmills were used all over The Great Plains.
  They were used to pump water from the ground to
  the surface so the settlers could use it. This
  helped make The Great Plains more livable.

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Barbed Wire

• The widespread use of barbed wire fences changed
  life on the plains. Land that was once open to
  all was now being fenced off by ranchers and
  homesteaders. Homesteaders were better able to
  protect their crops and ranchers had better
  control over their herds. The American Indian
  was also affected by the wire that they referred
  to as Devils rope.

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Steel Plow

• Invented by John Deere, the steel plow was made
  to cut through the tough sod on the Great Plains
  without the dirt clogging up along the blade.
  This meant the farmer could plow without having
  to stop and clean his plow off every few yards.

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Dry Farming Wheat Farming

• Dry farming is used in areas that have little
  rainfall. Basically, the farmer divides his
  fields in wide strips and then plants crops on
  every other strip. This allows the soil to
  gather moisture for two years.
• Wheat became popular on The Great Plains because
  it actually grows better this way, especially Red
  Wheat introduced by Russian Immigrants.

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Beef Cattle Raising

• Many ranchers started raising beef cattle on the
  Great Plains. It actually makes plenty of sense
  if you think about itwhat big animal similar to
  a cow had been living on the plains for years?
• The longhorn was the choice of most as it was
  well suited to the harsh climate of the plains.

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Transcontinental Railroad

• The Transcontinental Railroad connected the
  Atlantic and Pacific coasts. It was made up of
  many small railroad lines. The railroad opened
  up the Great Plains area for people who wanted to
  settle there, and made trade easier from one area
  of the country to another. This encouraged
  industrial growth and economic growth.

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Sod Houses

• Sod Houses are exactly what they sound like.
  Houses made of sod. The settlers used sod
  because there were very few trees on the Great
  Plains.