Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
Changes in Farming, c1876-c1895 (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
How Important was the Development of Farming Technology to Transforming the Plains? - Summary
The development of farming technology played a crucial role in transforming the Plains.
A key development that transformed farming on the Plains was the invention of the steel plough in the 1830s. The steel plough could break through the sod of the Plains. The steel plough made it possible to cultivate all of the Plains.
New techniques allowed more homesteaders to overcome the harsh weather conditions of the Plains. Dry farming enabled settlers to grow crops in areas with limited rainfall. These techniques allowed for crops such as wheat, corn and oats to grow on the Plains.
Another method to combat the lack of water was irrigation. Homesteaders increasingly used windmills and windpumps to access underground water sources. This allowed farmers to water their crops all year round. By the 1880s, the Plains were rich and fertile farmland. More homesteaders could succeed and make a profit.
Dry Farming on the Plains
Dry farming is a method of preparing the soil so it traps rainwater under the ground
Hardy Webster Campbell developed the technique in 1879
Campbell was a homesteader
Problems with farming on the Plains | How did dry farming solve this? |
|---|---|
The Plains experienced very little rainfall | Campbell's technique prompted crops to grow better roots. The crops could then access more water from the soil in periods of low rainfall |
Some crops struggled to grow in the Plains | Dry farming worked well with growing wheat. Wheat was an essential crop for homesteaders |
Homesteaders used dry farming until the 1890s
A series of severe droughts stopped the technique from becoming widespread
Examiner Tips and Tricks
An exam question would not expect you to know the in-depth method of dry farming. The examiner is testing you on whether you can explain the importance and consequences of dry farming. You may be asked to explain how dry farming fits in the narrative of farming on the Plains.
New Farming Technology on the Plains
Wind Pumps
In 1854, engineer Daniel Halladay made a significant development in sourcing water
He developed a windpump with a windmill that would swing around automatically to find the wind
This was called the self-governing windmill
By the 1880s, inventors made further improvements to windpumps
Problems with farming on the Plains | How did improvements to windpumps solve this? |
|---|---|
There was a huge amount of water deep underground but no technology could reach it easily | The pumping power was increased through larger blades, higher towers and better mechanisms |
Farmers with wooden wind pumps struggled when winter storms destroyed them | In the 1880s, inventors developed all-metal windpumps. The windmills had steel blades and towers. This is much stronger than wood |
Windpumps were expensive to fix. Farmers had to climb up every day to oil the mechanism | All-metal windpumps only needed oiling once a year. The homesteader could oil the windmill from the ground |
Barbed Wire
Barbed wire was introduced in 1874
It was important for farming on the Plains as:
There was so little wood for timber
It was effective in fencing off homesteaders' property
By the 1880s, there were important developments in barbed wire
Problems with farming on the Plains | How did improvements to barbed wire solve this? |
|---|---|
Barbed wire was too expensive for many homesteaders, who struggled to make money on the Plains | New production methods made barbed wire more affordable |
The harsh weather conditions in the Plains caused barbed wire to rust | A coating was applied to barbed wire to stop rusting |
Cattle ranchers began to use barbed wire to:
Stop their cattle from roaming
Protect their cattle from attacks or cattle rustling
Mechanisation
Inventors and manufacturers aimed to make farming faster, more efficient and deliver better results
Problems with farming on the Plains | How did mechanisation solve this? |
|---|---|
In many parts of the West, there was low rainfall. Dry farming required a farmer to plough further downwards so that rainfall could reach deep underground | The creation of steel ploughs allowed farmers to adjust the depth of ploughing |
Strong winds and storms in the Plains blew away planted seeds | Seed drills allowed farmers to plant seeds at the correct depth. This increased the amount of crops that homesteaders grew |
Mechanisation had a significant impact on the USA
More homesteads became successful, creating bigger farms
Bigger farms needed more industrial products, increasing US industry
The relationship between manufacturers and farming boosted the US economy
Worked Example
Explain one consequence of mechanisation on the development of farming
4 marks
Answer:
One consequence of mechanisation is how it made farming more profitable for homesteaders. Before, the weather conditions of the Plains blew away planted seeds. Manufacturers developed seed drills, which allowed farmers to plant seeds at the correct depth to avoid this. This helped the development of farming because homesteaders could successfully turn more seeds into crops. This allowed homesteaders to earn more money and develop bigger, more successful farms.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
A high-standard response to this question needs to explain how mechanisation improved farming. There are many different approaches to this question. You could explain how mechanisation allowed farmers to try new methods such as dry farming. Ensure that you explain in detail using specific own knowledge how mechanisation caused your chosen consequence to occur. For this question, the easiest approach is to use the piece of equipment and explain how this improved farming.
This question has previously asked you to explain two consequences. In the American West exam paper for 2025, this question will ask you to explain one consequence. However, there will be two different "Explain one consequence of" questions each, worth four marks.
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