What Are The Effects Of The Homestead Act

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The Homestead Act of 1862 was signed into order by our late president Abraham Lincoln. The Homestead Act transferred over 200 million acres of public land into private land for purchase. Anybody who wanted to move west just had to file for land usually it was like 160 acres and after five years of living there it was theirs for free or after 6 months they could purchase it for a dollar and sixty two cents an acre. Settlers would set out in search of gold and land. The land wash harsh and much more suitable for raising cattle as compared to farming. The ability to easily afford and get land along with the introduction of the Transcontinental Railroad led to a boom in western expansion. The transcontinental Railroad made moving west easier, although
One such instance was with Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Tribe. Chief Joseph refused to sign treaties with the government and after some rogue tribesmen attacked some white settlers, he and his tribe tried to flee to Canada but were caught and forced onto a reservation. The battle of Little Bighorn is also known as Custer’s last stand was also a prime example of the cruelty towards the Native Americans. The battle of Little Bighorn took place in 1876 in Montana. The government was falling back on a treaty they signed with the Sioux and Cheyenne Tribes. They were already placed onto a reservation, but when gold was discovered on the reservation Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer was sent to trap them and then wait for backup to force the Native American’s from the land. Custer disobeyed orders and attacked instead. Chief Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull of the Sioux tribes knew of the plan and set a trap for the army regiment and killed all of them. This battle was one of the greatest victories for the Native

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