The Homesteaders Flashcards
when was the homestead act?
1862
what did the homestead act do?
families were given 160 acres of land for free providing that they lived on it and farmed it for 5 years
what was proving up?
after 5 years the family could purchase the land for $30
when was the timber culture act?
1873
what did the timber culture act do?
settlers were given another 160 acres of land for free if they agreed to plant 40 acres of the land with trees
when was the desert land act?
1877
what was the desert land act?
settlers who wanted more land could buy 640 acres of land cheaply in areas where lack of rainfall was a problem
why did many ex soldiers and slaves become homesteaders?
they were looking for a new life
how did railroad companies encourage people to buy homesteads?
they were selling land cheaply on either side of the railroad so people could travel easier
what were the pull factors for homesteaders?
offer of free land
chance of a new start
advertising by railroad companies
letters home from those who had already gone west
what were the push factors for homesteaders?
poverty and unemployment
escaping religious persecution
ex soldiers saw lack of opportunity when they returned home
what were the enabling factors for homesteaders?
railroad
indians confined to reservations
what problems did the homesteaders face?
water shortages, extreme weather, lack of fuel, lack of building materials, disease and natural hazards
how did the homesteaders overcome water shortages?
windmills were used to pump water from underground
dry farming
how did the homesteaders over come extreme weather?
dry farming was used to overcome drought
