Changes in farming, the cattle industry and settlement Flashcards

All 9 cards in this deck

What was the impact of ploughs with steel ploughshares on Plains farming?

They made it easier to cultivate the tough land, so farmers increased the size of their fields.

What happened in the winter of 1886–87 on the Plains?

A very harsh winter meant cattle could not reach grass; thousands died and many cattlemen went bankrupt.

Why was the open range overstocked by the early 1880s?

Cattle barons over-invested in ranching during the boom, and the drought of 1883 left less grass, worsening it.

How did ranching change after the end of the open range?

Ranchers kept smaller herds on land fenced with barbed wire, breeding pure-breds for high quality meat.

Who were the Exodusters?

African Americans who migrated from the South to Kansas in 1879 to escape racism and poverty and claim land.

What was the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1893?

The opening of the Cherokee Outlet in Oklahoma, where settlers raced to claim former Indigenous land.

What was meant by the closure of the 'Indian Frontier'?

By 1890 the census declared there was no longer a frontier line — settlement covered the West and Indigenous peoples were confined to reservations.

What was dry farming on the Plains?

Farming low-rainfall land by keeping as much moisture in the soil as possible, e.g. by ploughing or harrowing soon after rain and leaving fields fallow; it helped make the Plains a leading wheat-growing region.

What was Turkey Red wheat?

A hardy wheat variety brought to Kansas by Mennonite migrants from Russia, which coped well with the dry climate and harsh winters of the Plains.