HMH Homesteading Documentary

Why were the Great Plains once called the “Great American Desert”?

• Settlers discovered that the weather was warm throughout the year.

• Early explorers thought that the land was worthless because it had no trees.

• Settlers found that the land produced fewer crops than they needed

• Early explorers noticed that the area received a limited amount of rainfall each year.

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Which sentence best summarizes the results of the Homestead Act?

• It encouraged people to get married and start families.

• It encouraged people to visit the United States and consider staying.

• It allowed people to move to the Midwest and the Pacific Coast.

• It allowed people to earn a living and help develop the young country.

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The video includes a picture of a large crowd at a train station. Which idea does this picture help explain?

• The Homestead Act made land open to everyone, not just the rich and powerful.

• The Homestead Act was supported by Abraham Lincoln, so many people wanted to thank him.

• After the Homestead Act, the plains became so crowded that people headed back east.

• Before the Homestead Act, many people were unhappy with how Congress planned to use the land.

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What was the primary reason people moved to the Great Plains?

• to teach people how to become homesteaders

• to escape the boredom of the city

• to get land free or at a greatly reduced cost

• to start new businesses

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The video shows a globe that points out Ukraine and North Dakota. How does this picture add to viewers’ understanding of Joseph Marquart?

• It shows why he moved to the United States.

• It shows the excitement he felt about his journey.

• It shows how far he traveled to start a new life

• It shows what farming was like in Russia at the time

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