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Compare And Contrast The Homestead Act And Pacific Railway Act

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The Homestead Act and Pacific Railway Act were both implemented by the government in hopes of igniting Westward expansion. The Homestead Act was finalized in 1862, it allowed “any head of a family or anyone older than 21 could have 160 acres of public land on the payment of small fees” (W&R,133). In short, the Homestead Act allowed the expansion towards the West to be affordable and later (with the introduction of railways) it would prove profitable. The Pacific Railway Act was also passed in 1862 and it “granted a charter of incorporation to the Union Pacific Railroad, which was authorized to build a line from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to the western boundary of Nevada. The Central Pacific, incorporated under the laws of California in 1861, was
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The document of the Homestead Act was one of the first factors towards development in our nation. This act offered free or cheap land to anyone who would live and improve the Great Plains area. The people taking part got 160 acres of land, had to build a house on it, and live on it for 5 years. The act encouraged immigrants and freedman to travel out west. This act gave opportunities to many individuals that would not be given before.

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846 Words | 4 Pages

Railroads replaced much slower, less efficient modes of transport with an all weather, 24 hour, year round alternative. The Railroads, in conjunction with telegraph lines, and steamships connected the nation and opened vast regions to the development of industries. Railroads, eager to sell land on the Great Plains granted to them by the government, advertised migration in conjunction with land speculators, transatlantic steamship lines and western territories. The government initiated Homestead Act allowed for the establishment of farms along the frontier, and built up the interior west which was only occupied by Natives, for it allowed 160 acres of land to anyone who was willing to farm it for five years. The Morrill Land Act allowed 140 million acres of federal lands to be sold by states to raise money for the establishment of public universities/ land grant colleges to broaden educational opportunities and foster technical and scientific expertise, thus allowing agricultural education to be available to migrants with little experience, thus opening up the prospect of western settlement to urban workers in the East.

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However, with the purchase of land from other countries people were able to spread out westward. To further increase settlement Congress passed the Land act of 1820 allowing for eighty acres to be bought at a dollar twenty-five per acre. ( Bailey, Cohen, Kennedy 259). As more settlers moved west the population center also shifted westward showing the migration trend away from the coast. Furthermore, expansion unlocked a plethora of natural resources.

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386 Words | 2 Pages

The Declaration of Independence was a document that freed the colonies from Britain. After the French and Indian War the British put out a new control called the Proclamation Line of 1763. The Proclamation Line of 1763 didn 't allow the colonies from settling west from the Appalachian Mountains. Another act that King George III put into place is called the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act is a law that required that the colonists buy and place tax stamps on many kinds of documents.

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1080 Words | 5 Pages

Central Pacific Railroad started from San Francisco, and used Chinese laborers for their work, pushing through the Sierra Nevada mountains. In 1867, to encourage quick progression, Congress deemed the land remaining between the two companies, which was the Utah plains, to be paid at mountain rate. This motivated the Union Pacific crew to lay 360 miles of track, and the Central Pacific crew to lay 425 miles of track within the year (Stockwell, 2011). Unfortunately, this hasty pace came at a cost.

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Railroad Strike of 1877 1877 In the late nineteenth century, the railroad industry was booming. But it’s growth was followed by labor arguments, including the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. This strike was the first major rail strike, and it was disputed with enough violence to bring in various state militias. The Strike began when northern railroads cut salaries and wages because they still felt the impact of the Panic of 1873.

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433 Words | 2 Pages

Western Expansion Western expansion is the populating of the western part of the United States. This event took place in the mid 1800s to the early 1900s, and it was the western area of the United states expanding to the pacific area of America. This event took place in result of the Manifest destiny, gold rush of 1849, the homestead act, and railroads.

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The Transcontinental Railroad played a significant role in the settlement of the American West. As of May 10th, 1869, this railroad became the area’s newest and fastest mode of transportation. Its first obligation was to bring settlers in at very low cost, and, sometimes, even free of charge. The types of people that began to migrate West were those who were searching for a better life. One which contains less poverty and more opportunities.

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Lincoln signed the Homestead Act in 1862. This resulted in the government giving away lands to

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This caused settlers to use the Oregon Trail as the “main trail” as they wandered off into other lands. At some point, the Congress had decided to pass the Preemption Bill. This bill gave permission to occupy and settle (or to “squat”) on a piece of land after it being surveyed by the government. Law encouraged the movement towards the west along with reports made by Lieutenant John C. Fremont. This way, more people were exposed to the West and what more land it had to offer other than

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The U.S had gained a lot of land, or frontiers in the West from Mexico. The land was undeveloped, therefore the U.S had to find a way to develop the land. The U.S would come up with the Homestead Act. The Homestead Acts states that any citizen or anyone planning to become a citizen is eligible to gain 160 acres of land, typically to form farms. The plan was intended to make the people stay in that land and create a

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Life for the Native Americans was much harder during and after the western expansion. For example, the US took land from the Indians leading the formation of reservations, White men almost hunted the Buffalo , an important food source for the Indians, to extinction, and forced the Indians to get rid of their culture. Because of the western expansion, the area of land the Indians could occupy decreased significantly. The government would make treaties with the Indians allowing them to keep a certain area of land, but this would soon be broken ; When the Pacific Railroad Act was passed it stated that wherever a track was laid the company would own any land 200 ft surrounding the track including Indian land ; the Government would make sure that

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283 Words | 2 Pages

Manifest Destiny (first developed in 1845) was the idea that during the nineteenth century, America not only could but would expand from coast to coast. The accomplishment of this idea came with the removal of indians in areas like the great plains, as well as many smaller conflicts in between the indians and the Americans. The Americans attempted to make a compromise with the indians so that they would leave peacefully, examples of this would be the offer to pay the indians in the form of supplies and annuities. The idea was a good one until Americans denied a payment in 1862 because John pope regarded the Indians as “maniacs or wild beasts ” and states that they do not deserve treaties or anything of the sort. Another big factor in the expansion of America from coast to coast was the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, not only with the people that it had brought to the west for the work, but the ease that it had provided for those who wanted to travel from the east to the west and did not have the money nor the time.

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People in America during this time seeking for opportunities out west that they did not think they had in the east. During this time, gold was discovered in California that attracted many people not just from America, but all over the world. Plus, the government encouraged people to go mining for gold by giving miners cheaper land to live on out west. As stated in the Homestead Act of 1862, United States Congress, a law providing free land for citizens of the United States in western territories. This act encouraged people to mine for gold in California so they could have cheaper land than they would anywhere else.

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1499 Words | 6 Pages

Homestead Act of 1862 The Homestead Act was passed on May 20, 1862; this act accelerated the settlement of the western territory by granting the head of families 160 acres of surveyed public land for a fee of $30 and 5 years of continuous residence on that land. During the forty years after its passing about half a million families took advantage of the act by purchasing land trying to make a home for themselves in the vast open lands. Though the act held good intentions it was truly a hoax, making it seem better than it actually was through all the loopholes and fine print the public did not see. The Homestead Act was considered to a significant failure by examining how land was sold, attitude toward Indian reservations, and corporate greed

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