Settling the Great Plains

Why did many American immigrants move to the Great Plains in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

• to get free land

• to work in factories

• to find gold

• to fight in a war

Which phrases best describe the physical characteristics of the Great Plains?

(Choose 3)

• treeless grassland

• plentiful forests

• abundance of water resources

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• limited water resources

• tough, dry soil

After the Civil War, the number of farms grew dramatically in the

• Great Plains

• Homestead Act

• Immigrants

Some of that growth in farms was due to the ___________________ ,which gave free land to families.

• Great Plains

• Homestead Act

• Immigrants

Many of the families who received free land were ________________.

• Great Plains

• Homestead Act

• Immigrants

How did early white settlers of the Great Plains use their environment to make homes?

• They used bundles of prairie wheat to construct homes.

• They used the abundant trees on the plains to construct homes.

• They used bricks of prairie sod to construct homes.

• They used buffalo hides to construct easily movable homes.

How did windmills improve life on the Great Plains?

• They powered well-drilling machines to give farmers access to water underground.

• They powered steel plows to give farmers assistance tilling the hard soil.

• They powered wheat harvesting equipment to give farmers help to harvest their crops.

• They powered tree-cutting machinery to give farmers access to lumber.

How did the settlement of the Great Plains affect American Indians?

• American Indians were given land in the East since settlers took their land.

• American Indians became Buffalo Soldiers and helped protect railroad construction and supply wagons.

• American Indians were ultimately forced to stay on reservations after many conflicts with settlers.

• American Indians welcomed the new settlers and continued their traditional way of life without disturbance.

What was the role of the Buffalo Soldiers?

• They delivered the mail by riding on buffalo.

• They built the railroads that were heading West.

• They protected settlers from attacks by American Indians.

• They taught settlers how to hunt buffalo.

How did the “Buffalo Soldiers” get their name?

• American Indians nicknamed them this for their fierceness and bravery.

• American Indians nicknamed them this because they killed all of the buffaloes.

• Congress called them this name because they patrolled the Western lands.

• Congress called them this name because they taught settlers to hunt buffaloes.