Acts to promote settlement

Question 1

How much land could settles claim from the Homestead Act?

Answer 1

160 acres

Question 2

How long did settlers have to live on land before they could claim it from the Homestead Act?

Answer 2

5 years

Question 3

What % of settlers claimed their homesteading land?

Answer 3

40%

Question 4

Which offerings were more attractive than that of the Homestead Act?

Answer 4

The land given to the railway companies

Question 5

What other acts in the 1870s encouraged settlement?

Answer 5

Timber Culture Act 1873 and Desert Land Act 1877

Question 6

What did the Timber Culture Act offer?

Answer 6

A further 160 acres if settlers planted 40 acres with trees within 10 years

Question 7

What did the Desert Land Act offer?

Answer 7

640 acres if they irrigated it within two years

Question 8

Why didn’t the acts to promote settlement have the desired impact?

Answer 8

Growing trees was difficult because of winds and lack of water, irrigation costs were prohibitive