- Act (1862): Provided settlers with 160 acres for free if they lived on it and farmed it for 5 years.
- Act (1873): Gave an extra 160 acres if settlers planted 40 acres of trees.
- Act (1877): Allowed settlers to buy 640 acres cheaply in dry areas.
- Act (1862): For every mile of track built, railroad companies received 10 square miles of land and a loan of $16,000 (or $48,000 in mountainous areas).
2. General Reasons (Similar to the 1840s)
- Lack of Opportunity: High land prices in the East limited opportunities, especially for younger sons.
- Poverty and Hope: Immigrants from Europe (especially the UK) sought better lives.
- Religious Persecution: Groups like Jews, , and Mennonites fled persecution.
- Propaganda and Idealism: Promises of a luxurious life encouraged migration.
- Manifest Destiny: A belief that Americans had a duty to spread ‘civilization’ across the continent.
3. New Factors Encouraging Migration (Post-1862)
a. Homestead Act (1862)
- Simplicity: Minimal fees and requirements—just $12 fee, improvement of land over 5 years, and $6 at the end.
- Ownership and Security: Settlers gained permanent land ownership, achieving independence and self-sufficiency.
- Money: Free land attracted those who couldn’t afford farms in the East.
- Emancipated Slaves and Immigrants: Loose criteria meant that land was open to all – including single women, immigrants, former slaves, and veterans, offering fresh starts to marginalized groups.
b. Civil War Impact
- African Americans: Post-Civil War, freed formerly enslaved Black Americans fled racial violence in the South, seeking equality and opportunity in the West (e.g., in Kansas).
- Declaration of Secession: Northern politicians passed the Homestead Act and Pacific Railroad Act after Southern secession, as Southern states feared these acts would create more ‘free’ states.
- Disbanded soldiers: After the Civil War, many disbanded soldiers and freed slaves sought new beginnings on the Plains. received time-served credits toward their residency requirement, making it easier to claim land.
- Economic Developments: Post-war Northern business growth led many displaced small-business owners to move West. Meanwhile, struggling Southern farmers, affected by the abolition of slavery, sought better opportunities.
- Desperados & Outlaws : Veterans used to excitement, danger, and travel during the Civil War headed West for new adventures, with some turning to crime (eg the famous ).
c. Railroads and Accessibility
- Access: Railroads made travel and supply transport faster, safer, and connected the West to national markets.
- Sale of railroad land: Railroads sold excess land at low prices to settlers, increasing land accessibility.
- Protection: The government stationed soldiers and provided law officers, offering protection and stability for settlers.
- Employment on the Railroad: Many people, including many immigrants from , moved West for jobs building the railroads.
- Campaigns to advertise the land: Railroads aggressively promoted Plains life to boost rail usage.
- Telegraph Communication: Telegraph lines alongside the tracks offered a connection to family and business contacts nationwide.
- Settlement: Railroad stations often turned into towns, drawing settlers and providing (eg shops, hotels, banks) that further encouraged settlement.
1. Government Acts to Encourage Settlement
- HOMESTEAD Act (1862): Provided settlers with 160 acres for free if they lived on it and farmed it for 5 years.
- TIMBER CULTURE Act (1873): Gave an extra 160 acres if settlers planted 40 acres of trees.
- DESERT LAND Act (1877): Allowed settlers to buy 640 acres cheaply in dry areas.
- PACIFIC RAILROAD Act (1862): For every mile of track built, railroad companies received 10 square miles of land and a loan of $16,000 (or $48,000 in mountainous areas).
2. General Reasons (Similar to the 1840s)
- Lack of Opportunity: High land prices in the East limited opportunities, especially for younger sons.
- Poverty and Hope: Immigrants from Europe (especially the UK) sought better lives.
- Religious Persecution: Groups like Jews, AMISH, and Mennonites fled persecution.
- Propaganda and Idealism: Promises of a luxurious life encouraged migration.
- Manifest Destiny: A belief that Americans had a duty to spread ‘civilization’ across the continent.
3. New Factors Encouraging Migration (Post-1862)
a. Homestead Act (1862)
- Simplicity: Minimal fees and requirements—just $12 REGISTRATION fee, improvement of land over 5 years, and $6 at the end.
- Ownership and Security: Settlers gained permanent land ownership, achieving independence and self-sufficiency.
- Money: Free land attracted those who couldn’t afford farms in the East.
- Emancipated Slaves and Immigrants: Loose ELIGIBILITY criteria meant that land was open to all – including single women, immigrants, former slaves, and veterans, offering fresh starts to marginalized groups.
b. Civil War Impact
- African Americans: Post-Civil War, freed formerly enslaved Black Americans fled racial violence in the South, seeking equality and opportunity in the West (e.g., EXODUSTERS in Kansas).
- Declaration of Secession: Northern politicians passed the Homestead Act and Pacific Railroad Act after Southern secession, as Southern states feared these acts would create more ‘free’ states.
- Disbanded soldiers: After the Civil War, many disbanded soldiers and freed slaves sought new beginnings on the Plains. VETERANS received time-served credits toward their residency requirement, making it easier to claim land.
- Economic Developments: Post-war Northern business growth led many displaced small-business owners to move West. Meanwhile, struggling Southern farmers, affected by the abolition of slavery, sought better opportunities.
- Desperados & Outlaws : Veterans used to excitement, danger, and travel during the Civil War headed West for new adventures, with some turning to crime (eg the famous JAMES BROTHERS).
c. Railroads and Accessibility
- Access: Railroads made travel and supply transport faster, safer, and connected the West to national markets.
- Sale of railroad land: Railroads sold excess land at low prices to settlers, increasing land accessibility.
- Protection: The government stationed soldiers and provided law officers, offering protection and stability for settlers.
- Employment on the Railroad: Many people, including many immigrants from CHINA, moved West for jobs building the railroads.
- Campaigns to advertise the land: Railroads aggressively promoted Plains life to boost rail usage.
- Telegraph Communication: Telegraph lines alongside the tracks offered a connection to family and business contacts nationwide.
- Settlement: Railroad stations often turned into towns, drawing settlers and providing SERVICES (eg shops, hotels, banks) that further encouraged settlement.
