The story of people who are moving and settling in order to find a suitable place for living in the Great Plains has always been a central experience in American agricultural history. As Jackson Turner points out in his famous essay:
“Up to our own day American history has been in a large degree the history of the colonization of the Great West. The existence of an area of free land, is continuous recession, and the advance of American settlement westward, explain American development… American social development has been continually beginning over again on the frontier. This perennial rebirth, this fluidity of American life, this expansion westward with its new opportunities, its continuous touch with the simplicity of primitive society, furnish the forces dominating Amrican character. The true point of view i n the history of this nation in not the Atlantic coast, it is the Great West.” From the nation’s earliest days, farming has had a very important place in the U.S. economy. Throughout frontier literature the virtues of the farmers, their initiative, hard work and selfsufficiency, were praised as being unequalled in American history. But this heroic picture forgets that there farmers have always been dependent upon some uncontrollable facts as the weather, prices or government policy.
American farmers are known to produce large yields per hectar, what has to be charged to the abundance of natural benefits. “Some of the richest farmland in the world can be found in the American West.” Between the close of the Civil War and 1900, the United States developed as one of the world’s leading economic powers. Revolutionary methods of production, vast new markets, and new forms of corporate organizaiton were created by successful indurstrialists. A rapidy expanding railsroad system as well as innovations in farm machinery led to a ubiquitous growth of agricultural poductivity.
To sum it up, farmers embody the real hero of the New World, as they were bringing civilization in their wagons into that unknown land. Though there were many obstacles hindering their moveme nt, the farmers learned to adapt to the special demands of the nature and established villages, roads, railroads, schools and churches. “Amricans were a pioneering and an agricultural people who had experienced a constant love affair with the land.” This research paper tries to analyse environmental backgrounds as well as the history of the western movement including typical farm life examples.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Great Plains - environmental background
- Distinguishing characteristics
- Soil variations
- The Prarie soils
- The Chernozems
- The Chesnut soils
- The Desert soils
- Climate
- Rainfall
- Evaporation
- Wind
- The hot winds
- The chinook
- The norther
- The blizzard
- Hail
- Further dependances
- Building materials
- Transportation
- Water supply
- History of the migration movement
- Pioneering before 1860
- Booming years
- Land-taking and land speculation
- Occupying the West
- The last frontier
- Hardships
- Prarie fires
- Droughts and dust storms
- Grasshoppers
- Dependance upon railroads, banks and market prices
- Supporting factors
- Homestead Act - 1862
- Contest for settlers
- Farm life
- Living conditions on prarie farms
- Dwellings
- Daily works
- Sozial life
- Changes
- Living conditions on prarie farms
- Conclusion - from majority to minority
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This research paper aims to analyze the environmental context and history of the westward movement in the American Great Plains, focusing on the experiences of prarie farmers. It delves into the challenges and opportunities faced by these pioneers, highlighting their adaptation to the unique demands of the environment.
- Environmental characteristics of the Great Plains
- History of westward migration and settlement
- Challenges and hardships faced by prarie farmers
- Impact of government policies and economic factors on farm life
- The significance of the prarie farmers in shaping the American West
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: The paper introduces the significance of the Great Plains in American agricultural history, highlighting the role of prarie farmers in the westward expansion. It discusses the dependence of farmers on uncontrollable factors, particularly weather, prices, and government policies, emphasizing the importance of their adaptability and resilience.
- The Great Plains - environmental background: This chapter focuses on the unique environmental features of the Great Plains, including its soil types, climate, and challenges related to transportation, water supply, and building materials. It explores the complexities of the region's natural environment and its impact on human settlement.
- History of the migration movement: This chapter outlines the history of westward migration and settlement in the Great Plains, tracing its progression from early pioneering efforts before 1860 to the boom years characterized by land-taking, land speculation, and westward expansion. It also explores the hardships encountered by prarie farmers, including prarie fires, droughts, dust storms, and dependence on railroads, banks, and market prices.
- Supporting factors: This chapter examines key factors that influenced the westward movement, including the Homestead Act of 1862 and the competition among settlers for land.
- Farm life: This chapter dives into the daily life of prarie farmers, focusing on their living conditions, work routines, and social interactions. It explores the unique challenges and adaptations involved in farming in this harsh environment.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this research paper include: American Great Plains, westward expansion, prarie farmers, environmental factors, migration, settlement, challenges, hardships, adaptability, resilience, farm life, government policies, economic factors, Homestead Act.
- Quote paper
- Susanne Weid (Author), 2004, Prarie Farmers, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/47055
