Chapter 13, sec.2, Critical Thinking

How successful were government efforts to promote settlements of the great plains? Give examples to support your answer. Think about:

• The growth in population on the Great Plains
• The role of railroads in the economy
• The homestead act

The governments efforts were successful in promoting the settlements of the great plains. First railroad companies were given 17 million acres in land grants, which lead to five transcontinental railroads making it so goods could be shipped from one side of the country to the other. The rail road companies sold some of their land to farmers which increased the settlements in the west. (pg 421)

Another thing the government did was passed the homestead act. The homestead act gave 160 acres of free land to the head of the household who was a citizen or a intended citizen. Up to 600,000 families came and took the free land in the time span of 1862-1900. Then in 1889 the government added to the homestead acts by giving land away in Oklahoma. Two million acres of land was claimed in one day. (pg 421)

One other thing that the showed that the governments efforts were successful was the growth of population in the great Plains. In 1850 1%of the nations population lived in the west of the Mississippi River, and then almost 30%of the nations population lived there by the turn of the century. (pg.422)