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Factors leading to the settlement of the Frontier

Factors leading to the settlement of the Frontier. 1. Availability of Cheap Land. Homestead Act – 1862 160 acres of land free if settled within 5 years. 2. Promotion of Scientific Agricultural Education. 1862 Morrill Act

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Factors leading to the settlement of the Frontier

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  1. Factors leading to the settlement of the Frontier

  2. 1. Availability of Cheap Land • Homestead Act – 1862 • 160 acres of land free if settled within 5 years

  3. 2. Promotion of Scientific Agricultural Education • 1862 Morrill Act • allocated 17,400,000 acres of federal land, which when sold, raised $7.55 million to support the creation of land-grant colleges, (Cornell Univ.; Penn State, etc.) • in order to promote the “ liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life”. • Hatch Act– established agricultural “experiment stations” to inform farmers of new methods and machinery

  4. 3. Railroads • Government land grants allowed for completion of transcontinental routes • 130 millions acres granted to railroads • Facilitated movement of goods and people • Ended frontier isolation • Encourage farmers to settle • Profits from shipping crops increase • Effective tool of advertising on rr cars!

  5. 4. Inventions and improvements in farm technology…..EFFECTS • WINDMILLS TO PUMP WATER (arid land useable) • IRRIGATION SYSTEMS arid land useable) • STEEL TIPPED PLOWS (deeper plowing; stronger; breaks less often) • STEAM POWER (threshers; binders; faster and improved production)

  6. 5. Discovery of Precious Metals • Encouraged the adventurous to move West to find their fortune

  7. 6. Destruction of the Buffalo and Confinement of Native Americans • “obstacles” to settlement were removed

  8. Importance of the Frontier in American Life

  9. Frederick Jackson Turner’s “Frontier Thesis” The Frontier had a major role in shaping the American character: • It was a safety valve for the discontented • It promoted individual self-reliance – survival, inventiveness • It promoted social equality – no class distinctions; everyone was equal with the same opportunities (social mobility)

  10. 4. It promoted economic opportunities 5. There were resources and land available 6. It promoted the growth of democracy • The West was the first to adopt democratic reforms • Women’s right to vote(Colorado & Wyoming) • Direct election of US Senators • Use of political primaries to choose candidates for political office

  11. “Close” of the Frontier in 1890 • 1890 – Government announced no more unexplored or unsettled land existed within the U.S. • Our foreign policy is then adjusted to promote increased foreign trade and expansion of foreign markets • It encouraged many to support a move to obtain overseas colonies (a “new frontier”) (imperialism) • The U.S. began to realize limits in space and resources - need to promote conservation of resources and immigration restrictions

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