Acts for Homesteaders

• Civil War

  1861-65, Northern states wanted freedom for slaves, Industrial revolution, whereas there where still many slave owners in the South. After the civil war, life for black Americans remained hard so groups such as the Exodusters were formed. The Exodusters were a group that moved to the West, often Kansas due to a rumour of welcomeness started by Benjamin Singleton (former slave).
• Pacific Railroad Act (1862) What did it do.

  Provided incentive for building transcontinental railroads (whole America). Made migration easier, gov wanted companies to start building them. Companies, Union Pacific and Central Pacific.
• Pacific Railroad Act (1862) Achievements and Limitations

  Positives-East and West were linked. Made migrating safer, quicker, easier (PIs unlikely to attack).First transcontinental electric telegraph was set up. Fewer people used Oregon Trail (good as was often dangerous due to weather etc) -Limits- Both companies nearly went bust, huge job. Cost gov lots, would loan each company $16,000 per miles of track ($48,000 for mountain eg Rockies) + would terminate any rights PIs had to land along railroad. Both companies found very difficult, thought around 12,000 men died while building
• Transcontinental Electric Telegraph

  On October 24, 1861, the first transcontinental telegraph system was completed by Western Union, making it possible to transmit messages rapidly (by mid-nineteenth-century standards) from coast to coast. This technological advance, pioneered by inventor Samuel F. B. Morse, heralded the end of the Pony Express.
• Homestead Act (1962) What it did

  Provided farmers with 160 acres of land, to use to farm. Had to pay $10 to register to claim this land. If someone had lived on the land for 5 years or more, built a house or planted 5 acres of crops or more (proved up), they could pay $30 to own the land.
• Homestead Act (1862) Achievements and Limits


  Positives- 1876, over 6 million acres of pand had successfully become homesteads in the West. It encouraged immigration from Europe- boosts the economy.

  Limits- 60% of homestead claims were not proved up because the land was poor quality. Rich business men took advantage- got lots of land.
• How did the development of railroads impact settlers and farmers

  Made travelling west much cheaper and easier. Encouraged immigration from Europe. Towns grew rapidly along railroad routes: every terminus became a town. Farmers could transport their grain and other crops to sell in the big eastern cities. Settlers could but products from industrial cities (agricultural machinery, clothes, household items, etc).
• How did railroad developments impact the Plains Indians

  Declining buffalo numbers: the tracks and land grants reduced grasslands, trains brought hunters to the Plains. PI tribes moved away from the railroad routes. PI attacks on railroad surveyors and constructors led to conflict with the US army. Railroads led the way for the invasion of PIs lands by white Americans.
• How did railroad developments impact the nation

  Connected western territories with the East and integrated them into the USA: many felt ‘Manifest Destiny’ had been achieve. Huge economic benefits: connected east and west, and also opened up the USA to trade with Asia.
• How did the railroad developments impact the cattle industry

  Enabled growth of the cattle industry: Texas cattlemen could transport and sell cattle at high prices in the big eastern cities.
• Timber Culture Act (1873)


  Although 100 acres of land was plenty for a family farm in the East, was not sufficient in the West or on the Plains where rainfall was lower. TCA was introduced, gave homesteaders extra 160 acres of land if they promised to plant trees on a 1/4 of it. Trees were successful becaus: protected crops from the wind, provided settlers with timber, provided fuels for fire. Unfortunately many trees died due to lack of rainfal, the act was unduccesful