homestead act 1862

settlers could by 160 acres plots

it coast $10 to make a claim per person

if you could prove you use the land then after 5 years you could buy it for $30

nearly anyone could buy as long as yu were over 21: woman, ex slaves and solider but no natives

encouraged migration to the west

allowed the homeless and landless to get land for cheap

by 1867 over 6mill acres had been claimed

this increased by 80 mill and over half of Nebraska was claimed

60% of homesteads failed before 5 years up due to crop failure- bad weather and the environment

led to lawlessness

rich could buy lad for cheap leading to cattle Barrons

over 300mil (74%) acres were given to railroad companies - more people bought from railroad combines than the government

further increased settlement on plains

this gave settlers a further 160 acres if they planted 40 acres of trees- this reduced the fuel issues and increased timber for building