Inventions and Innovations Westward Expansion

This gadget helped many farmers cultivate their land in order to produce crops.

John Deere invented the first plow in 1837. This plow was known as the cast-steel plow and was designed for Midwest soil, which was known to be dry and rocky.

As soon as Deere sold his first plow, word of his invention spread quickly and every farmer in the area wanted one.

Heavy wires, twisted together in a way that created sharp points at regularly spaced intervals.

Joseph Glidden invented Barbed wire in 1873.

The lack of trees on the Great Plains was a serious problem for anyone who needed to build a fence. Farmers could now protect their fields and ranchers could keep their animals contained!

A Windmill is a tall object built to harness the wind. It has revolving blades that move as they are pushed by the wind.

They were used to pump water and later to generate electricity.

Daniel Halladay invented in 1854

Cattle raising provided jobs for Cowboys who would watch over the cattle and then sell them.

This huge production of beef was a result of several inventions and innovations coming together at the right time.

Cow Towns grew along the railroad lines where the cattle would be loaded on the railroad.

Farming on the Great Plains was difficult. There was very little rain to support a crop. Many plants couldn't survive the climate.

Wheat was a great option and could survive with little water. When the steel plow became available, dry farming began.

Farmers could use the steel plow to dig deeper into the soil and reach moisture.

Building materials like wood and stone were almost totally absent from the Great Plains.

Sod houses were made of "bricks" that settlers cut out of the soil. These pieces of soil were held together by the roots of the thick prairie grasses.

Sod houses provide shelter, but were not comfortable to live in.