Homesteaders on the plains
Settlement of the
West, mostly in violation of existing treaties, begins in earnest
with the passage of the Homestead Act. This act is followed
by three more, opening up Indian country to white settlers in
violation of dozens of treaties and leading to the theft of tens of
millions of acres of treaty protected lands owned by Indian
tribes.
A homesteaders sod house on the American Great
Plains.
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/homestead-act/
The Homestead Act of 1862 simply opened up Indian country
to the customary land speculation and monopolization that had
already characterized land acquisition in the east. The use
of dummy gentrymen was pandemic on the frontier, permitting
speculation, mining, timber and cattle companies to acquire huge
blocks of land under false claims. The swaths claimed by
railroads and grants to states, and patents to veterans for former
debts, often reduced the size
Related Events
Related Flashpoints