2.1 - PPT - Frontiers of the West and Farmers Economic Challenges [Recovered]

Homesteading

The process of settling on land granted by the U.S. government under the Homestead Act, where individuals could claim land ownership after improving it.

The Great Die-Up

A massive blizzard in 1887 that resulted in the death of 90% of open range cattle due to harsh winter conditions.

The Gilded Age

The period from 1865 to 1900 characterized by rapid economic growth, industrialization, urbanization, and immigration to the United States.

Cattle Kingdom

The historical region in the Great Plains where cattle ranching became a prominent industry during the late 19th century.

Morrill Land Grant Acts

Laws that provided federal land to states to fund colleges, focusing on agriculture and mechanical arts.

Pacific Railway Act

Legislation that facilitated the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, promoting westward expansion.

Boomtowns

Rapidly growing towns that emerged overnight as a result of gold and silver mining activities.

Barbed Wire

A fencing material patented by Joseph F. Glidden in 1874, which transformed ranching practices by protecting farmland.

Dry Farming

An agricultural technique that involves deep seed planting to achieve better moisture retention in dryland conditions.

Vigilante Justice

An extrajudicial legal action taken by citizens, often occurring in mining towns where legal systems were lacking.