New Settlers: A Narrative Analysis

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When the West opened up to new settlers, it was a huge change for all. The West was home to not only people but an abundance of resources that impacted us economically. Moving to The West for people was either a win or lose, to say the least. It seemed as though the development of The West brought promises to benefit individuals but not all. One particular program known as the “The Homestead Act, that granted 160 acres of federal land to any applicant and improved the property” (Henretta 475) seemed to be the big attraction for settlers in this area. One group affected by the development of the West was the uprising of the “General Mining Act of 1872, which allowed those who discovered minerals on federally owned land to work the claim and keep all the proceeds” (Henretta 475). This was brought on in hopes to develop more of western resources. This rise of mining and resources was sought to be great as it made a ravenous market for timer and produce. …show more content…

Most miners, lumberman, and cowboys produced jobs typically done by men due to their overwhelming demand of the task. If it wasn’t for the Women who “tended the garden and animals, preserved food, and helped us at harvest time” (Henretta 479) the agricultural aspect wouldn’t have strived. The most affected group I would say were the Native American’s. As the White took over into the West, they pushed most of the tribes out of their homeland that originally, they’d claimed as their home. Many of these tribes were forced to go elsewhere to make way for the white to settle. The white had taken over numerous resources such as water and lumbar that the Native American’s needed and originally had to themselves, preserving them to use correctly. As the Whites were taking the lumbar to hillsides and building

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