"The sod wall is about 2 feet thick at the ground,and slopes off on the outside to about 14 inches at the top.The roof is composed of a ridge pole and rafters of rough split logs… Occasionally a newcomer has a "bee," and the neighbors for miles around gather at his claim and put up his house in a day… tried a new dodge with the cornmeal.Mixed it with a little water and salt…My supper will be a slice of ham boiled with beans,and a slice of bread.How is that for high toned?..."
Howard Ruede,1877
-This excerpt most directly reflects

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The excerpt describes the experience of a settler homesteading on the Great Plains during the late 1800s. The reference to a "bee" implies a community-oriented approach to house building, which was often necessary due to limited resources and isolation. The use of cornmeal as a food staple suggests a lack of access to other food sources. These conditions reflect the push factor of economic opportunity, which led settlers to the Great Plains in search of land and the chance to build a new life.

"The Sod Wall Is About 2 Feet Thick at the Ground,and