Homestead Act Flashcards
When was this Act passed?
May, 1862
The purpose? (4 reasons)
- Secure and monetize the western territories for the US
- Secure from Confederacy, Russia, Mexico, Britain, etc…
- Move Americans out into the territories
- Create a future beyond the Civil War
You could get the land if you…
Any adult citizen, who never borne arms against the US.
How much land?
160 Acres of government owner land
What was the catch?
you must live on and improve the plot by cultivating the land for 5 years and you had to pay a small fee once these years were up
What benefit did veterans get
they could could subtract their time served from these 5 years
What was the other option?
you could only do a 6 month requirement and pay 1.25$ per acre
Why did northern businessmen oppose this?
they were worried that giving away free land would lower property value and reduce the supply of cheap labor
Why did Southern plantation owners oppose this?
they were worried that homesteaders would oppose slavery’s expansion in the west then fight for abolition
Why was it passed?
Because the south left the Union and took their anti-homestead votes with them. So Lincoln could official pass the Act
Where did most homesteaders come from?
Nearby
Why did Homesteaders come from this distance?
Transportation was expensive and these acres required expertise in farming
Why did it fail?
Few laborers and farmers could afford the coast of tools, seed, and livestock
What percent went to small farmers
16% of land went to the small farmers (1862 to 1904)
Where did the rest of this homesteading land go?
to speculators, large cattle ranchers, mining companions, logging companies, and railroad companies
Did Congress try to fix it?
Yes, with revisions
How much of the US was settled under this Act?
10%
By what year did the land claims shrink and why?
The best land went quickly, by 1930’s the number of land claims shrunk
What was a consistent problem?
Fraud
What year did it finally end
1976
What was the special extension?
One in Alaska through the 1980’s
