Early Settlement on the Plains

In the 1840s and 1850s, increasing numbers of white Americans began to settle on the Great Plains — a vast grassland previously considered the "Great American Desert" and unsuitable for farming. This lesson examines the early settlers, their motivations, and the challenges they faced. This is a key topic for the AQA GCSE History specification.

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Why Were the Plains Considered Unsuitable?

Before the 1840s, most Americans viewed the Great Plains as an uninhabitable wasteland. Major Stephen Long explored the region in 1820 and labelled it the "Great American Desert" on his maps. Reasons included:

• Lack of trees — no timber for building or fuel.
• Extreme weather — bitterly cold winters, scorching summers, tornadoes, and droughts.
• Lack of water — few rivers and very low rainfall.
• Tough soil — the thick prairie grass had dense, tangled roots that ordinary ploughs could not break.

Exam Tip: The phrase "Great American Desert" is important. It explains why settlers initially bypassed the Plains and headed to Oregon and California instead. Early settlers only stopped on the Plains when push factors became strong enough or new technology made farming possible.

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