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The Last Frontier

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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 ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: The Last Frontier


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
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