Folklore

Folklore in literature pertains to many different topics, if not all of them. Folklore focuses on one's culture, stories told and passed down, lessons taught, legends, etc. In agricultural literature, The Homestead Act of 1862 illustrates what the culture of the United States was and what made it the way it is today, based off of people’s decisions and government influence. During the time of the Civil War, land, food and work were scarce. Though at this time the focus was not neccessarily in this social issue as it was to slavery. President Abraham Lincoln noticed how the success of the country and its future heavily depended on the action that was taking place in that particular moment. In 1860, 58% of the country were involved and employed in agricultural occupations. The nation accumulated over 2,000,000 farms and the average size of each one was nearly 200 acres. (Kinkead,77) 

Lincoln emphasized and brought attention to government officials that, “The most valuable of all arts will be the art of deriving a comfortable subsistence from the smallest area of soil. No community whose every member possesses this art, can ever be the victim of oppression in any of its forms.” (Kinkead, 77) He continued to address them that, ‘the purpose of the government was to be able to afford all, an unfettered start, and a fair chance, in the race of life.’ By paying attention to the details in society's lifestyle, changes were able to be made to help the country be on a better track to set them up for success. The Homestead Act was created which granted more citizens equal opportunity to have work and to grow food to survive in these harsh conditions. On a 5 year condition and certain requirements that had to be upheld, citizens were privileged 160 acres of land to take care of in order to, ‘prove up’ the country and make it better. This teaches how small and simple things done well, can make the difference to transform this country.

These concepts of culture are relevant to work ethic and responsibility; characteristics that separate the average from the greats. In athletics, changes must be made and strategies need to be reflected on to be improved so results can be delivered. A large part of this is the culture of a team. One man may make the difference, on idea can change failure into success. Just like Lincoln’s observation of the country's culture, needs and customs, he was able to make the changes necessary that were reasonable enough for people to commit to so changes in the country would be made. Folklore is more than telling legends and stories, it’s observing the nature of people and their life.

Kinkead, Joyce, et al.  Farm: A Multimodal Reader. 2nd ed., Fountainhead Press, 2016.