Set 6 — Agriculture and the Western Economy

What was the Trans-Allegheny region?

The area west of the Appalachian Mountains that became an important agricultural region and source of food for eastern markets.

Why was the West called the nation's breadbasket?

It produced large quantities of grain, livestock, and other agricultural goods that supplied eastern cities and overseas markets.

What was subsistence farming?

Farming mainly to produce enough food and goods for a family's own needs rather than for commercial sale.

What was commercial farming?

Farming primarily to produce crops and livestock for sale in distant markets.

How did agriculture change during the early 1800s?

New machinery and transportation allowed farmers to produce more food and sell it to distant consumers rather than only supporting their own households.

Who was John Deere?

An American inventor who developed the steel plow in 1837, making it easier to cultivate the thick soil of the Midwest.

What was the significance of John Deere's steel plow?

It allowed farmers to plow Midwestern soil more efficiently, increasing agricultural production and western settlement.

Who was Cyrus McCormick?

An American inventor who developed the mechanical reaper during the 1830s.

What was the mechanical reaper?

A machine that harvested grain much faster than manual methods, allowing farmers to cultivate larger areas and increase production.

How did agricultural inventions affect western farmers?

They increased productivity, made large-scale commercial farming more practical, and connected farmers to national and international markets.

Why did western farmers need improved transportation?

They produced more crops than local communities could consume and needed inexpensive ways to ship their goods to distant markets.

How did the West contribute to the national economy?

It supplied grain and livestock to eastern cities and overseas markets while purchasing manufactured goods from the Northeast.