5) Homesteaders Flashcards
When was the homestead act
1862
What did the Homestead act involve
Families were given 160 acres of land for free- if they lived on and farmed it for 5 years
When was the timber culture act?
1873
What was the timber culture act
Settlers were given a further 160 acres of land if they agreed to plant 40 acres of it with trees
When was the desert land act
1877
What was the desert land act
Settlers who wanted more land could buy 640 acres cheaply in areas of little rainfall
Why did the end of the civil war cause people to become homesteaders
Thousands of demobilised soldiers and their family’s wanted to rebuild their lives
Why were many freed black slaves homesteaders
because they were looking for a new start
How did building the railroads help the homesteaders
it was easier for them to get onto the plains, and they could buy land cheaply from the railroad companies
what were some pull factors for the homesteaders
the offer of free land, the chance of a new start, advertising by the railroad companies, letters home from those who had already gone west who enccouraged people to go west
what were some push factors for the homesteaders
many looking to escape poverty and unemployment,looking for some good farming land, to escape persecution, ex-soldiers saw lack of opportunity when they returned home
what were some enabling factors
railroads, indians being moved off the plains to reservations
what were some problems that homesteaders faced?
water shortages, weather extremes, lack of fuel, dirt and disease, building materials, natural hazards
how did the homesteaders deal with water shortages
windmills were used were used to pump water from underground, dry farming was also used
how did they deal with weather extremes
dry farming to overcome drought
