Distance Learning

Black Homesteaders on the Great Plains: Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness (6th - 8th)

Grade Level:
Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
Subject:
Social Studies
Common Core Standards:
11-12.L.1, 11-12.L.6, 6-8.WHST.1, 9-10.WHST.4
State Standards:
SS 6.1.2.a, 6.2.1.b, 6.3.4.a, 7.2.4.a, 7.2.5.a, 7.3.2.b, 7.4.2.a, 8.1.1.c, 8.1.2.d, 8.3.2.a, 8.4.1.a, 8.4.2, HS.2.8.b, HS.3.2.b, HS.3.4.a,  HS.4.1.a, HS.4.1.b, HS.4.2.a, HS.4.3.

The call of free land offered Black Americans the possibilities of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness on the Great Plains. Come learn about the struggles that Black homesteaders met in building and sustaining households and communities. Discuss with Park Rangers how these stories impact the Great Plains today.

Program Format:

  1. This program will begin with an introduction to the NPS.
  2. We then discuss the difficulties that Black Americans faced in the South post Reconstruction.
  3. We next explore how the Homestead Act of 1862 offered a new start for Black homesteaders.
  4. Then we discuss the various experiences of independent homesteaders on the Great Plains.
  5. Next we discuss the building of the intentional community of Nicodemus, KS.
  6. We then highlight the economic and environmental challenges homesteaders faced in Nicodemus.
  7. We end with a recap of the importance of Black homesteading on the Great Plains.

Objectives:

  1. Expand understanding of the homestead story to highlight Black homesteaders.
  2. Broaden our idea of migration in the United States to include Black farmers leaving the South.
  3. Discuss the different experiences of homesteading independently and in communities.
  4. Reflect on how homesteading offered Black Americans new access to the American Dream.
  5. Explain why the National Park Service made Nicodemus a National Historic Site.

How to Participate:

Homestead National Historical Park participates in video calls to provide our distance learning opportunities. We partner with the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) to schedule programs. CILC accounts are free, and there is no charge for any of our programs.

Register a program using CILC (select "Homestead National Historical Park" from the Content Provider field to discover all our program offerings).

If you are unable to register through CILC, please call our Education Specialist at (402) 223-3514 or send them an e-mail.

Tags: homestead act 1862 homesteading westward expansion african americans black americans great plains homestead national historical park

Last updated: January 29, 2026