Homestead Act · US History

Which invention allowed homesteaders to access deep underground water sources on the plains?

  1. The wooden bucket
  2. The self-regulating windmill
  3. The hand-cranked drill
  4. The gravity-fed aqueduct system
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: The self-regulating windmill

Windmills used the constant prairie winds to pump water from deep aquifers. This allowed homesteaders to sustain livestock and crops even during dry spells, making permanent settlement on the high plains possible.

Difficulty: Medium Question 12 of 20

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