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Westward Expansion. Kim Buice Chapman Elementary. How did the US look in 1860?. before Westward Expansion began. Homestead Act of 1862. Passed December, 10, 1861 Signed by Lincoln May 20, 1862 Must be a US citizen Must be 21 years old Must farm and improve the land for 5 years.
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Westward Expansion Kim Buice Chapman Elementary
How did the US look in 1860? • before Westward Expansion began
Homestead Act of 1862 • Passed December, 10, 1861 • Signed by Lincoln May 20, 1862 • Must be a US citizen • Must be 21 years old • Must farm and improve the land for 5 years
How many went? • by 1900, 600,000 claims were filed • over 80 million acres claimed • most settled in Western Plains states
Hardships Begin • Grasshoppers and other pests destroy crops • They are very hard to kill
And the Hardships Continue • Houses are made of sod. • Weather is harsh • Life is very difficult
Finally some success! • new technology makes farming easier • threshing machines are available
The successes go on! • windmills provide power
The Railroads Come • Finally the railroads came • Travel was made easier • Goods could be delivered
Many people stayed • Obviously, many people decided to stay. • The shape of the United States was changed forever.
How did the US change? • Map of the US, 1900 • After Homestead Act and massive Westward Expansion
Credits • All photos are courtesy of the Library of Congress • And the American Memory Collection • Maps on frames 4 and 11 are courtesy of American Studies at the University of Virginia