during the 19th century the great plains were refered to as?

Answer 1

They were often refered to as the "Great American Desert".

"In colonial times, the term "desert" was often used to describe treeless or uninhabited lands whether they were arid or not. By the 19th century, the term had begun to take on its modern meaning. It was long thought that treeless lands were not good for agriculture, thus the term "desert" also had the connotations of "unfit for farming". While the High Plains are not a desert in the modern sense, in this older sense of the word they were."

Answer 2

The journey of Zebulon Pike gave credence to the concept of: The Great American Desert. What he reported back was a land much unlike anything most Easterners had ever experienced. It was largely treeless, grasslands, water aplenty in a few isolated rivers but little in tributary streams. The rivers tended to get quite low in summer. It was possible to be a mile or two from say, the Arkansas River and be parched. (the advent of the windmill in America changed that). The early pioneers through this land tended to cross the "desert" and keep on going to Oregon or California. No one seemed to notice the fertility of the soil. Measured in feet instead of inches that was common in the East. There is a famous picture of a covered wagon with the lettering on the side: In God we trusted, In Kansas we busted", they were in the Eastward Movement. The combo of poor distribution of water, the lack of fuel, lack of building materials delayed the settling of these lands. Sod houses were the norm for those who settled in this "desert".

Answer 3

the great plains were the steppes and prairies of canada and the usa the prairies stage the biggest indian war and defeat of custer and seventh cavalry at little big horn and the massacre of ghost dancers and followers at wounded kneethese but to name a few

Answer 4

Them thar cornfields.