MONDAY- How did railroads and the Homestead Act help settle the Great Plains? What challenges did settlers/farmers face on the Great Plains? Government gave railroads land grants = 160 acres Railroads took up farm land/took Indians land. Opened up the west and transport food and items
Railroads- (50 years) Western States 61,000 USA- 120,000 Southern 27,000
Homestead Act- Gave 160 acres of land to people to live on and farm, attracted thousands of people to the Midwest including ex-slaves, Land speculators "stole" much of the land that was set aside for the Homestead Act. Speculator- person who trades commodities, bonds, equities, or currencies with a higher than average risk in return for a higher-than-average profit potential
Struggles on the Great Plains- trying to find food, bad weather, lonely, grasshopper plagues, hard work, Native Americans, lack of trees, railroad prices, debt
Sod Houses- house made out of mud (not stable, snakes and bugs)
Insect Plagues/Rocky Mountain Locust - hit farms hard in the 1870's, extinct in 1902
Native American Attacks- mid late 1800's, fairly low number of casualties
Railroad Prices and Debt- Railroads charged farmers high prices due to lack of competition, many farmers mortgaged their farms to buy more seed and supplies, crop prices fell due to overproduction, after Civil War amount of money went down, money became more valuable which made it harder to pay back debt (paper money vs gold & silver) farmers wanted more money in circulation (this would cause inflation which would be good for crop prices)
TUESDAY- The Grange- The National Grande 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 (1867) and is still around today (organization that helped farmers)
Granger Law- Series of state laws passed in several Midwestern states-Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois- in the late 1860's and early 1870's. Designed to fight back against railroad abuses. Wanted railroads and grain elevators to charge fair prices. Munn vs Illinois- 1877- Supreme Court supported farmers. Wabash vs Illinois (1886)-Supreme Court supported the railroads -led to the Interstate Commerce Act
Interstate Commerce Act (1887) -Allowed the US Government to supervise railroads. Required railroad rates to be "fair and just". Set up Interstate Commerce Commission to carry out law. Failed to help farmers of first because long legal process and resistance from the railroads
Populist Movement- Omaha Platform -1890's -Help farmers out of debt. Give farmers 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 term for President/Vice President. Secret Ballot. 8 hour work day. Restriction on immigration
Increase Money Supply in Circulation-
Gold Bugs- Bankers & Businessmen, loans would be repaid in stable money, gold standard/less $ in circulation, Effects- deflation- prices fall, value of money increases, and fewer people have $
Silverites- Farmers & Laborers, Bimetallism/more $ in circulation, products would be sold at higher prices, Effects- Inflation-prices rise, value of money decreases, more people have $
William Jennings Bryan- cross of gold, Nebraska Congressman="You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thrones, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold
Immigrants were taking jobs
WEDNESDAY-. no school
THURSDAY-
FRIDAY-
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