Settlement in the West (Homesteaders) Flashcards
What was the Homestead Act of 1862?
One consequence of the American Civil War (1861-65) was the Homestead Act. Incentives were given to people to farm the west on the Plains in family-sized plots of land of 160 acres. The land was free apart from $10 to file a claim. You had to work the land for 5 years before they owned it.Consequences-6 million acres were homesteaded by 1876. Free land encouraged lots of white immigration on the Plains.
What were the limitations of the Homestead Act?
Limitations-high drop out rate-60%,rich landowners found ways of buying up land,Government gave 300 million acres to railroad companies who sold it to settlers.
What were the problems for the Homesteaders?
Lack of trees, water, hard land, fires/pests destroyed crops, not enough land, disease, lack of education, isolation.
What were the solutions for the problems?
Sod Houses, barbed wire, dried buffalo dung for fuel, wind pumps, machinery, dry farming technique, Turkey Red Wheat, Timber Culture Act 1873 160 acres plant trees on half, Desert Land Act 1877 640 acres cheap land, Women teachers/doctors, Railroads brought people/supplies. New Methods, Dry Farming-ploughing soil after it rained to conserve water.Helped grow Turkey Red Wheat. New Technology-Wind Pumps, helped pump water from underground & solved the problem of finding water on the Plains.
