Slide 1

Aim:How did the United States encourage settlement of the West?

Do Now:What problem do you see in the US by 1860?How can the Federal government fix the problem?

Think Pair Share

How can the Federal government fix the problem?

The Homestead ActLaw signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 that gave land to settlers. The only requirements were that applicants needed to:

Be at least 21 years oldBe American citizensPay $10 registration feeFarm the land for 5 years before they could own it.

What problems or challenges could you imagine would arise because of the Homestead Act?

Problems with the Homestead ActMany people could not meet all the requirements or afford to keep the lands. Many who moved from cities did not know how to farm.Water was scarce and the climate ranged from very hot to very cold.Fraud, as land would be claimed to later be sold for a profit.

The Pacific Railway Act

In 1862 the US Congress passed the Pacific Railway Act giving land grants and government bonds (money) to railroad companies to build a transcontinental railroad.

The Pacific Railway Act linked the east and west of the US and the gov. also secured use of the railroad for postal service or military purposes.

What impact did the Pacific Railway Acts of 1862 have on the migration of people into the Western interior?

What problems or challenges could you imagine would arise because of the Pacific Railway Act?

How did the Homestead Act and Pacific Railway Act impact the United States?

What do you think could be possible effects of the westward movement of American settlers?

Task: in your groups of four, conduct a galley walk to determine the effect of westward movement of American settlers.

What are the effects of the westward movement of American settlers?

Are the effects more positive or more negative?