Bonanza Farms & Homesteading Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is a bonanza farm?

Large, highly profitable wheat farms (correct)

Small family farms

Vegetable gardens

Organic farms

What type of wheat is planted in the spring and harvested in the summer?

Spring wheat

Who was hired to sell bonds for the Northern Pacific line?

Jay Cooke

Who helped create the first bonanza farm?

George Cass Signup and view all the answers

What were bonanza farms broken up into for management purposes?

Divisions Signup and view all the answers

Where did orders for bonanza farm employees come from?

Headquarters Signup and view all the answers

What equipment was used to cut wheat and tie it into bundles?

Binders Signup and view all the answers

What were used to stack the bundles of wheat?

Shockers Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of separating wheat from its stalk called?

Threshing Signup and view all the answers

What type of bonanza farm appeared west of the Missouri River?

Cattle farms Signup and view all the answers

Why did Theodore Roosevelt come west to Dakota in 1883?

For hunting and to escape personal tragedy Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the ranches purchased by Theodore Roosevelt?

Maltese Cross Ranch Signup and view all the answers

Who was the French nobleman that started a huge beef packing plant in Dakota?

Marquis de Mores Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the wife of the Marquis de Mores, after whom the town was named?

Medora Signup and view all the answers

How are townships in Dakota Territory divided?

Into 36 sections Signup and view all the answers

What did the Homestead Act provide to settlers?

160 acres of public land Signup and view all the answers

What did the Timber Culture Act of 1873 grant to individuals?

160 acres if they planted trees on it Signup and view all the answers

Which immigrant group settled mainly in central and south central North Dakota?

German-Russians Signup and view all the answers

Which immigrants settled mostly in the eastern and northern parts of North Dakota?

Norwegians Signup and view all the answers

What is a dugout?

A home made by digging into the side of a hill Signup and view all the answers

What are sod houses?

Homes built with earth Signup and view all the answers

What are claim shanties made of?

Tar paper Signup and view all the answers

What were prairie fires?

Uncontrollable flames that appeared in dry times Signup and view all the answers

What is a general store?

A business that sold a variety of goods to settlers Signup and view all the answers

What is a political boss?

Someone who gained political power through connections Signup and view all the answers

What was the Dakota Farmers' Alliance?

An organization that addressed political and economic problems of farmers Signup and view all the answers

What did the Omnibus Bill authorize?

Creation of the state of North Dakota Signup and view all the answers

When was the Constitutional Convention held for North Dakota?

July 4, 1889 Signup and view all the answers

What does Article XIX of the new constitution pertain to?

Designated locations of state schools and institutions Signup and view all the answers

What number state did North Dakota become?

39th Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Bonanza Farms

Bonanza farms are large, highly profitable wheat farms, capitalizing on extensive land for agriculture.
Established as a result of the potential agricultural use of land intended for the Northern Pacific railroad.

Spring Wheat

This type of wheat is planted in the spring and harvested in the summer, optimized for climate conditions.

Key Figures

Jay Cooke was responsible for selling bonds for the Northern Pacific line but faced failure due to the railroad's bankruptcy; this shift allowed land to be used for farming.
George Cass, as President of Northern Pacific, played a crucial role in creating the first bonanza farm.

Farming Operations

Bonanza farms were divided into divisions, each usually less than 5,000 acres, to streamline management.
Headquarters directed orders for bonanza farm employees, establishing centralized management.

Farming Equipment

Binders were essential tools that cut wheat and bundled it for easier handling.
Shockers were used to stack the bundled wheat, preparing it for threshing.

Threshing Process

Threshing involves separating wheat from its stalk, a key step in wheat production.

Cattle Ranching

Cattle farms emerged west of the Missouri River, diversifying agricultural practices in the region.

Historical Figures

Theodore Roosevelt sought refuge in Dakota for hunting in 1883 after personal tragedy and purchased the Maltese Cross Ranch.
Marquis de Mores, a French nobleman, founded a significant beef packing plant in Dakota in 1883.

Settlements and Homes

The town of Medora was named after the wife of Marquis de Mores.
Townships in Dakota are divided into 36 sections for governance and land management.
Homestead Act of 1862 provided 160 acres of land to settlers committing to five years of farming.
Timber Culture Act of 1873 offered land if one-fourth was planted with trees, promoting forestry.

Immigration Patterns

German-Russians settled primarily in central and south-central North Dakota.
Norwegians mainly populated the eastern and northern regions.

Types of Housing

Dugouts were shelters created by digging into hill sides or stream banks.
Sod houses, constructed from earth, were common where timber was scarce.
Claim shanties were made from tar paper, indicating limited resources.

Environmental Challenges

Prairie fires posed significant threats during dry seasons, challenging settlers.

Community and Economy

General stores served as vital hubs for settlers, providing a variety of essential goods.
Political bosses gained power through connections, influencing regional politics.
Dakota Farmers' Alliance formed to address the political and economic issues affecting settlers.

Statehood and Governance

The Omnibus Bill, passed in 1889, authorized the creation of North Dakota, alongside South Dakota, Montana, and Washington.
A Constitutional Convention held on July 4, 1889, led to the establishment of North Dakota's government.
Article XIX of the new constitution outlined the locations for state schools and institutions.
North Dakota became the 39th state admitted to the Union.

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Description

Explore key terms related to bonanza farms and the homesteading era through these flashcards. This quiz covers important concepts like spring wheat and significant figures such as Jay Cooke and George Cass. Test your knowledge and enhance your understanding of agricultural history.