Challenges of Homesteading in the Plains

What was the primary purpose of the Homestead Act of 1862?

• To encourage the development of urban areas

• To promote the settlement and farming of the Great Plains

• To establish national parks

• To support the construction of railroads

Which type of house did homesteaders commonly build on the Great Plains?

• Log cabin

• Brick house

• Soddie

• Adobe house

What was a significant challenge faced by homesteaders on the Great Plains?

• Abundant rainfall

• High crop prices

• Backbreaking labor, fire and pests

• Easy access to markets

How did the mechanized reaper impact farming on the Great Plains?

• It increased the need for manual labor

• It allowed farmers to be more efficient and larger farms

• It decreased crop yields

• It made farming more expensive

Which company is associated with the development of the steel plow?

• McCormick Reaper Company

• John Deere Company

• Ford Motor Company

• General Electric

What was the primary function of the telegraph cables run along the railroad tracks?

• To provide electricity to the trains

• To facilitate communication across long distances

• To support the weight of the trains

• To irrigate the fields

Which of the following was a cooperative activity among settlers on the Great Plains?

• Building houses and barns

• Mining for gold

• Fishing in the rivers

• Trading with Native Americans

What was the Ghost Dance primarily about?

• A conflict over fishing rights

• A battle for control of the Mississippi River

• fear of native culture

• A dispute over railroad construction

The ______________ of 1862 was signed by president, Abraham Lincoln and promised people 160 acres of free western land if they moved there and promised to cultivate it/grow crops on that land for at least 5 years.

• Western Land Acquisition Act

• Homestead Act

  (a homestead= a family farm)

• Wild West Act

• Oregon Trail Act

Which of the following is considered the final event of the Plains Indians War?

• Wounded Knee Massacre

• Battle of Little BigHorn

• Battle of Saratoga

• Battle of Normandy