Question

The most serious problem faced by settlers on the Great Plains was:

A. The Great Plains had an excess of water, leading to frequent flooding and waterlogged land.
B. The main problem was excessive wildlife, including predators and large herbivores.
C. The settlers on the Great Plains faced no significant problems, as it was a perfect place for agriculture and settlement.
D. The primary issue was the lack of fertile soil for farming.

Answer 1

The most serious problem faced by settlers on the Great Plains was the lack of fertile soil for farming, which caused significant challenges for agricultural development.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most serious problem faced by settlers on the Great Plains was the lack of fertile soil for farming, which caused significant challenges for agricultural development.

Prior to the establishment of irrigation systems in the early 20th century, farmers on the Great Plains relied heavily on dry-farming techniques to grow crops such as corn, wheat, and sorghum. However, the region's typically low rainfall and harsh temperatures made crop cultivation difficult.

Additionally, several decades of commercial farming and overuse of the land altered the ecological balance of the Plains, leading to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. The combination of over-farming, depletion of topsoil, and overgrazing left parts of the Great Plains barren and vulnerable to drought.