Settlers were drawn to the Great Plains primarily due to the promise of fertile land for agriculture, particularly following the Homestead Act of 1862, which offered land at little to no cost. The vast open spaces presented opportunities for farming and ranching, appealing to those seeking a fresh start or economic improvement. Additionally, the discovery of resources like gold and silver, along with the expansion of the railroad, facilitated access and encouraged migration to the region. The allure of a new frontier and the potential for prosperity motivated many to venture into the challenging landscape of the Great Plains.
The great plains were a very dry place. People made there houses out of mud and straw
To build houses
White settlers began wanting the land on the plains
More land
natural grassland; fields of corn
1783
It was called the Great American Desert.
they came in the 1850s
The passage of the Homestead Acts led many settlers to the Great Plains states. These acts gave ownership of land to settlers at little to no cost.
The settlers on the Great Plains gave up and moved because they wanted to explore. They could not thrive in the Great Plains.
natives.
1783
by growing there food
Few settlers had moved to the Great Plains.
The great plains were a very dry place. People made there houses out of mud and straw
To build houses
great plains