Settling on the Plains

Question 1

Outline: Jim Bridger

Answer 1

Famous mountain man
Worked with the Government to help cross the plains
1824: first white man at Salt Lake
1850: Discovered the Oregon Trail
1864: Created the Bridger trail

Question 2

Why did Joseph Smith fail to settle the Mormons everywhere he went?

Answer 2

The Mormons travelled from Ohio to Missouri to Illinios, where Joeseph Smith was killed. People disliked the Mormons because:
They practiced polygamy (until 1890)
They set up the secret police the Danites
They were very successful in business and people got jealous

Question 3

Why was the settling of Salt Lake City (1847) successful? How did Bringham Young achieve this?

Answer 3

Bringham Young:

1. Broke everyone into small groups
2. Taught skills like tying up Wagons at night
3. Insisted on rest
4. Gave everyone a role
5. Made the land owned by the church and divided it
6. Set up the Perpetual emigration Fund

Question 4

What were the problems with the journey West? How can the Donner party (DP) be used to illustrate this?

Answer 4

1. Weather - DP got trapped in the early winter of 1847
2. Unknown routes - DP got lost in Nevada Desert, many died
3. Food had to be taken - they ran out and ended up eating eachother in the winter

Question 5

Problems and solutions of farming/living on the plains?

Answer 5

1. No water - wind pumps
2. ‘tradition’ crops died - used red turkey wheat
3. Land was unploughed so very tough - got ploughs from East via Trains
4. Claiming land was difficult - 1872 barbed wire invented
5. All the Government Acts gave more land and rights to homesteaders

Question 6

Problems (and solutions) of railway construction? The railway was completed in 1869.

Answer 6

1. Labour shortage - brought in Chinese and Irish workers
2. Indians attacked - killed
3. Bad living conditions - had to get over that

Question 7

How did women help homesteaders settle on the plains?

Answer 7

1. Sod houses
2. Teachers
3. Babies
4. ‘Cleaning’
5. Medicine
6. Making friends so people would survive in times of need

Question 8

Why were the developments of railroads so important in the development of the Great Plains?

Answer 8

1. Albeline built in railroad - cattle industry
2. Ease of transport - fufill manifest destiny
3. Law enforcers could be spread to control towns
4. Machines/ resources could be transported

Question 9

How was law and order kept in towns?

Answer 9

Sheriffs ( William Tilgham) - Marshalls - Vigilantes

Question 10

What were common crimes in early towns on the Plains? Examples?

Answer 10

Robbery - Belle Star
Murder- Billy the Kid
Gunfight - Jesse James
Cattle Rustling - Johnson County War