Chapter 13-2: Critical Thinking #3

How successful were government efforts to promote settlement of the Great Plains? Think about:

• the growth in population on the Great Plains.
• the role of railroads in the economy.
• the Homestead Act.

The government effort to promote settlement of the Great Plains was very successful for many reasons. First of all, within a 30 year period, the growth of population increased. While people settled in the West, the government was very helpful by turning land that consisted of forest and prairies, into farmland. In all, another 400 million acres were changed into farmland for the people after 1870 to about 1900. (p. 420)

While increasing the amount of land to be settled on, the governments efforts to promote settlement of the Great Plains also took action by the expansion of railroads. The power of the federal government set aside 170 million acres. (p.420) With that, land grants were made, giving both the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific the opportunity to build as many railroads that they wanted. With the companies expanding railroads all over, people had the option to buy farming land off of the companies. The settlement in the west was also effected by railroads because the companies needed a large amount of people to work. The solution for the lack of workers was to haul in immigrants. The more railroads that were built lead to the need of workers, which lead to even more immigrants settling in the west for job opportunities.

The government was also successful with their efforts to promote settlement of the Great Plains when the Homestead Act was passed. The Homestead Act proposed 160 acres of land to any citizen for free. (p.421) Taking advantage of this offer, about 600,000 families were now living in the Great Plains. Even though the offer of 160 acres was plenty of land to live on, some settlers who claimed their land was too dry, changed the minds of the government and could now claim over 160 acres of land. In time, the government improved the Homestead Act and promoted even more settlers to settle in the West. Even though people began to claim land before the government stated it was open, the governments attempt to endorse settlement in the Great Plains was a huge success.