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Westward Expansion
Summary: Between the 1840's and 1890's, many Americans moved west beyond the Mississippi River. The ability to own land was a great draw for many people but there were other reasons as well. However, the main reason was the Homestead Act of 1862. This allowed western settlers to obtain 160 acres of land for free as long as they built a home, worked the land, and actually lived on it. There were also other acts passed that added on to the Homestead Act. The Timber Culture Act in 1873 allowed for an extra 160 acres if you planted trees on a quarter of the plot. The Desert Land Act allowed one to buy land at $1.25 per acre as long as the land gets irrigated. Also, in 1878 the Timber and Stone Act was passed which allowed for the purchase of land unfit for cultivation at low cost. Although these were the greatest draws to the west, gold and a romanticized idea of the west and cowboys lured many beyond the Mississippi.
Between the 1840's and 1890's, many Americans moved west beyond the Mississippi River. For several reasons, Americans moved westward. Surely the ability to own land was a great draw for many people but there were other reasons as well. However, the reason many moved west was the Homestead Act of 1862. This allowed western settlers to obtain 160 acres of land for free as long as they built a home, worked the land, and actually lived on it. There were also other acts passed that added on to the Homestead Act. The Timber Culture Act in 1873 allowed for an extra 160 acres if you planted trees on a quarter of the plot. The Desert Land Act allowed one to buy land at $1.25 per acre as long as the land gets irrigated. Also, in 1878 the Timber and Stone Act was passed which allowed for the purchase of land unfit for cultivation at...
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This section contains 687 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |
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