Monday-
Key questions:
How did railroads and the Homestead act help settle the great plains?
What challenges did settlers/farmers face on the great plains
How did settlers/farmers solve some of these problems?
Not everybody liked the railroad, Indians grazing land was being taken farmers' land was being taken
Government gave land grants worth 170 million acres- wanted to make sure we were expanding our territory
Railroad millage-
New England not much
Middle states quite a bit
Southern states even more
western states and territories were a lot
Pacific States has 0 miles in 1850 and 129,000 in 1890
Land speculators stole much of the Homestead act land
A person who trades commodities bonds equities or currencies with a higher that average risk in return for a higher than average profit potential
Struggles on the great plains:
Life on the Great Plains was not easy
Lonely and hard to communicate
Bad weather-dust storms, flooding, snowstorms
Grasshopper plague- locusts flew in massive packs and ate everything in sight
Hard work- working all day, cutting wheat, milking cows, everybody is involved
Native Americans- attacks were common but sporadic with low casulties
Lack of trees- building other houses like dugouts
Railroad prices were high- charged high prices due to lack of competition, many farmers mortgaged their farms to buy more seed and supplies, crop prices fell due to overproduction
Debt- after the civil war the amount of money in circulation went down, so money became more valuable which made it harder to pay back debt, Farmers wanted more money in circulation which would cause inflation which would be good for crop prices
Houses built out of dirt were called Soddy's
Tuesday-
Farmers don't like the railroad
The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry
Organization in the US that encourages families to work together to promote the social, economic and political well being of farmers
Started after the Civil War and is still around today
The National Grange founded in 1867 is a nonprofit organization that advocates for rural America
Granger laws- designed to fight back against railroad abuses
Wanted railroads and grain elevators to charge fair prices
Munn v Illinois in 1877 supreme court supported farmers
Interstate Commerce Act- Allowed US Government to supervise railroads
Failed to help farmers at first because of long legal process
Populist Movement- Help farmers out of debt, give people a greater voice in government
Increase money supply in circulation-Silverites=currency be redeemable in silver as well as gold
Graduated income tax= higher income=higher taxes
Direct election of senators instead of chosen by the legislators
Single terms for President/Vice President
Secret ballot
8 hour work day
Restrictions on immigration
Gold Bugs or Silverites
Bankers/businessmen or Farmers and Laborers
Nebraska Congressman- don't crucify man upon a cross of gold
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