1 / 14

The Last Frontier

The Last Frontier. In 1860, land west of a line from St. Paul to Fort Worth was largely unsettled. This is the last frontier. Homestead Act of 1862. Conditions: 1. U.S. citizen or had filed papers to become one 2. 21 years old or head of family or 14 days military service

ahmed-baxter
Télécharger la présentation

The Last Frontier

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Last Frontier In 1860, land west of a line from St. Paul to Fort Worth was largely unsettled. This is the last frontier.

  2. Homestead Act of 1862 Conditions: 1. U.S. citizen or had filed papers to become one 2. 21 years old or head of family or 14 days military service 3. Never fought against the interests of the U.S. Terms: 1. Live on land 5 consecutive years--if not possible, could buy for $1.25/acre 2. Become a U.S. citizen 3. Pay $10 filing fee

  3. Shortcomings of the Homestead Act • best land was already settled • 160 acres not enough on High Plains • no attempt to re-locate impoverished urban workers • abuse of cattle ranchers and timber companies

  4. 1860 - 1900 500 million acres were disposed of: 80 million through Homestead Act 108 million through auction 300 million given as grants to railroads

  5. Period of Great Farm Building 1860 -- 407 million acres in farms 1900 -- 839 million acres in farms Fa r ms 5.5 million 1.9 million 1900 1860

  6. 3 Modernization Policies • 1862 Homestead Act • 1860 Creation of USDA, with cabinet status • 1862 Morrill Act, creating LGC

  7. Impacts of the Civil War • slavery abolished • decreased demand for mechanization • stimulated domestic demand • spurred increased production • triumph of family farm system of production over export sensitive, large scale (plantation) agriculture

  8. Following the Civil War • Agriculture enters into a recession that lasts until 1900 • between 1870 - 1880 • population increased 26% • production rose 53%

  9. Hard Times &The Agrarian Revolt • meeting high land prices with declining gross incomes • seeking out reasons for tough times on the farms • railroad rates, agribusiness • overproduction • plight in newly settled western states

  10. Farmers’ Response to Tough Economic Times • Organize and act collectively • Grange (Patrons of Husbandry) regulate railroad • Farmers Alliance form cooperatives • Populist Movement - William Jennings Bryan • Turn to government for assistance • USDA - created in 1862 • US Army - distributed rations to western settlers

  11. Post Civil War Recession • farmers sought relief by urging government to... • curb the power of monopolists • create a flexible and liberal monetary system • reform the tax system

  12. Emergence of Regional Specialization

  13. Emergence of Regional Specialization • Northeast - dairy, truck crops, fruit • Upper South - tobacco, corn • Deep South - cotton • Midwest - Corn Belt - corn, hogs • Lake States - dairy, forage • Great Plains - wheat • Western Range - cattle/sheep grazing • Pacific West - irrigation - specialty crops

  14. Post Civil WarRecession/Depression • creates recognition for the need to address poverty in rural America • need for modernization • requires technology & science & education • sets the stage for modernization & development • technology • education Reform • business orientation Movement • cooperation

More Related