The Great Plains Settlements in the 1850s

Who settled on the Great Plains in the 1850s?

Settlement on the Great Plains was encouraged by the US government, so many pioneer farmers settled there.

Where were the settlements on the Great Plains in the 1850s?

The settlements were in the new territories of Nebraska and Kansas, behind the Permanent Indian Frontier.

What problems were there in trying to settle on the Great Plains?

There were three main problems with settling on the Great Plains:

• ❖ There were few water sources, such as rivers and streams, and half the amount of rainfall as in the east.
• ❖ Due to the lack of water there were few trees. Those that did grow were often burned by the Native Americans, as this promoted grassland - which they wanted for buffalo.
• ❖ The climate in the area meant the summers were very hot, and the winters very cold. There were also wild thunder and hail storms.

What did the difficult conditions mean for settlements in the Great Plains?

Conditions on the Great Plains had 6 major consequences for the settlements:

• ❖ Crops could not grow in the dry conditions and livestock had little to drink.
• ❖ The lack of navigable waterways meant everything had to be transported by wagon.
• ❖ No timber was available for houses or fence building, nor for heating or cooking.
• ❖ Extreme weather and harsh storms destroyed some crops. Prairie fires were common and destroyed anything in their path.
• ❖ Deep-rooted grass made ploughing difficult. A 'sod buster' was invented to help, but otherwise it had to be dug out by hand.
• ❖ Conditions were perfect for insects. Grasshoppers in particular could swarm in the area. They destroyed crops, and their droppings often polluted water supplies.

How did settlers overcome the problems in the settlements on the Great Plains?

Those that chose to settle on the Great Plains had to find solutions to the problems they experienced:

• ❖ They burned buffalo dung after it had dried in the sun to use as fuel.
• ❖ They dug deep wells to find water. This was very expensive, but water was otherwise unavailable.
• ❖ They built houses from earth or sod. These were warm and fire-proof, but also often infested with insects. They also turned to mud in more severe thunderstorms.

What was life like in a settlement on the Great Plains?

Settlements were far apart and it could take days to travel to the next one or to a town. Many of those who lived there spoke about how lonely it was.

How did settlers feel about Native Americans on the Great Plains?

Most settlers were scared of the Native Americans. While some had more enlightened views, many had deep-rooted prejudices. They saw the Native Americans as savages who stole food and supplies and burned their trees. They feared being kidnapped to be used as slaves, or that they and their families would be scalped.

How did settlers affect the Native Americans on the Great Plains?

The white settlers had a major impact on the Native Americans. They disrupted the vital buffalo hunting, either by killing buffalo for themselves or causing stampedes. The settlers' livestock ate much of the grassland, leaving the Native Americans' horses hungry.