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Summary
Homestead Act of 1862 allowed settlers to claim 160 acres of land for just $12 if they lived on and farmed it for five years. This gave many people, including freed slaves, immigrants and single women, the chance to own land.
Later, the Timber Culture Act of 1873 offered settlers more land if they planted
trees, while the Desert Land Act of 1877 allowed people to buy large areas of
land in dry regions cheaply.
The government’s actions during and after the Civil War also helped.
After the war, many freed African Americans (‘exodusters’) moved west to escape
Jim Crow oppression, and demobbed Union soldiers were given the right to settle
on the Plains without waiting 5 years.
The Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 helped build railroads that made it easier for settlers to travel there and sell their goods afterwards. New towns grew up around the railroads, making the Plains more livable.
Many people also moved west to work on the railroads, further boosting migration
to the Plains.
Finally, the government provided protection through the
military, Marshalls and judges, making settlers feel safer.
How did American government try to populate the Great Plains in
the years after 1860?
The first way the U.S. government helped populate the Plains after 1860 was through the Homestead Act of 1862. This act allowed settlers to claim 160 acres of land for a $12 if they lived on and worked the land for five years. It gave ordinary people a clear and simple path to owning land, cheaply, with no legal barriers, making it an option for poorer families or those without land. It did not specify eligibility requirements, so many emancipated slaves, some women – even immigrants without citizenship – also filed claims.
For people who could never have afforded land in the East, the Homestead Act
provided the opportunity to own a farm and secure a future, making it a key
factor in fulfilling a dream to own their own land.
The Timber Culture Act of 1873 was another government effort to increase settlement on the Plains. This act granted settlers an additional 160 acres of land if they agreed to plant 40 acres of trees. This helped draw even more settlers to the Plains, particularly those who already held a homestead and could now double their holdings. By incentivizing tree planting, it also aimed to improve the land’s value and sustainability over time, which was an encouragement to settle. The government also passed the Desert Land Act of 1877, enabling settlers to purchase 640 acres of land at a very low cost in areas where water was scarce.
This made land in dry regions made it attractive to settlers who were willing to
invest the effort in irrigation or other improvements.
The government’s actions in the Civil War also had a significant impact on populating the Plains. The secession of the South allowed for the passage of both the Homestead Act and the Pacific Railroad Act, which had previously been blocked by Southern politicians opposed to the expansion of free states. In 1865, the federal government’s victory secured the abolition of slavery, and saw many freed African Americans, such as the Exodusters, fleeing the South’s racial violence and seeking a fresh start on the Plains.
Meanwhile also, the government gave demobilized soldiers from the Union army
special rights under the Homestead Act that allowed them to count their time of
service towards the land ownership requirements, which encouraged many to set up
as Homesteaders.
The Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 was another crucial government initiative. By providing railroad companies with 10 square miles of land and large loans for every mile of track they built, the Act ensured rapid construction of the transcontinental railroads. Railroads transformed migration to the Plains by making access faster, safer, and easier than the dangerous overland wagon journeys. They also provided a vital lifeline for transporting supplies and selling agricultural produce, making farming on the Plains more viable.
The railroads were also key in establishing new towns, as settlements often
sprang up around railroad stations, making it easier for homesteaders to get the
goods, services and social contact they needed.
Additionally, the government’s role in providing security through the military and law enforcement helped encourage settlement. Troops were stationed at forts along the Plains to protect settlers from conflict with Indigenous tribes. The presence of U.S. Marshals and judges helped enforce the law, reducing fears of lawlessness in the remote regions.
This sense of security played a big part in reassuring settlers that moving to
the Plains was a safe and feasible option.
Finally, the government’s involvement in the development of the railroads provided job opportunities that drew people west. The construction of the railroads required a large labour force, and many workers, including Chinese immigrants and African Americans, came to the Plains to find employment. Although the work conditions were harsh, the availability of jobs further fuelled migration.
The establishment of telegraph lines along the railroads also improved
communication across vast distances, making it easier for settlers to stay
connected with family and conduct business, further making the West attractive
for settlement.
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