Homesteading

What attracted the homesteaders to the new land?

• Freedom of religion.

• The land was at a low cost, and had good soil.

• The land had many trees for shade.

• The land had a river flowing through it.

Why was the land at low cost?

• No one wanted to live there.

• Congress passed a law allowing anyone to claim 60 acres of land in the South.

• Congress passed a law allowing anyone to claim 160 acres of land in the West.

• It was bad land to live on with many rocks and tough soil.

What did the narration tell you about the Dakota Territory?

• It was the land of the free.

• The land was all taken. No place to live.

• The soil was rocky with stumps and roots. Bad for farming.

• The soil is good. There are no stumps or roots to interfere with farming.

Why were the Great Plains once called the "Great American Desert?"

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

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

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

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

Which sentence best summarizes the results of the Homestead Act?

• It encouraged people to get married and start families.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

• to teach people how to become homesteaders

• to get land at a low cost

• to escape the boredom of the city

• to start new businesses

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 how far he traveled to start a new life.

• It shows the excitement he felt about his journey.

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

What was the connection between the Homestead Act and the building of railroads?

• Both allowed people to travel around the world.

• Both the Homestead Act and the railroads helped slaves become free.

• Both developed the traveling of lumber wood.

• Both the Homestead Act and the railroads helped develop America by bringing people to the undeveloped parts of the West.