Manifest Destiny, Homestead Act & The Transcontinental Railr

Attitudes about Manifest Destiny

During this time, Native Americans were being pushed out of their homes and on to reservations while the white men got more land to expand on. This was obviously an advantage for the white people who were eager to settle on more land, but the Native Americans suffered and were against it.

Manifest Destiny and the people's attitudes

Manifest Destiny is a term used to describe the attitude prevalent during the American expansion in the 19th century. This stated that the United States could and was "destined" to expand from coast o coast. This fueled western settlement, Native American Removal and war with Mexico.

Manifest Destiny

It incorporated a variety of ideas that involved race, religion, culture and economic necessity. It offered land, more resources and commercial opportunities.

http://firstpeoplesvoices.com/invented.htm

Manifest Destiny, Homestead Act & The Transcontinental Railroad

The Homestead Act of 1862

Signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May, 20 1862, the Homestead Act opened up more land for settlement. Anyone who had never taken up arms on the U.S government, was 21 years or older, or head of the family could file an application to claim a federal land grant.

By: Caitlyn Maddox & Richie Johnson, 3rd period

The Homestead Act of 1862

Transcontinental Railroad

This was a train route across the United States that was completed in 1869. It was between two railroad companies, the Union Pacific who built from he east and the Central Pacific who built from the west until the two companies met in Utah.

This law offered land west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains. People could keep the land as long as they lived there for 5 years and improved the land.

By 1934, 270 million acres of were given away (10% of the U.S), this was known as the Land Rush. There was an $18 fee to file the application to get a plot of land.

Transcontinental Railroad

Although very important to president Lincoln, it was not complete until 4 years after his assassination.

The railroad cut travel time across country from 6 months to 7 days, increasing transportation and trade.

The railroad didn't actually connect the east coast to the west coast, it went from California to Omaha.

Chinese and Irish people were responsible for building the railroad.

http://www.tcrr.com/