Part 2: The Great Dakota Boom

Questions: Section 4

Comprehension Questions

  1. Which part of North Dakota is well-suited for farming? For ranching?
  2. What was brought into North Dakota to provide meat for soldiers in military forts?
  3. Where did the largest number of cattle herds come from? What were they called?
  4. What is the unfenced land used for grazing cattle called?
  5. Who came to the Badlands to hunt and then bought two ranches? What was his nickname? What did he do from 1901 to 1909?
  6. What French nobleman founded a town in the Badlands? What did he name the town?
  7. What disaster put most of the cattle bonanzas out of business?
  8. A.C. Huidekoper had the largest what to ever operate in North Dakota?

Critical Thinking Questions

  1. Do you think better planning could have prevented the huge cattle losses in 1886–87? Explain.
  2. Some promoters of the Little Missouri River region thought the area should be called “Pyramid Park” instead of “Badlands.” What is your opinion? Explain.