Today in class I learned that the settlers goals were to change 400 acres of land, it took 250 years. In 1850-1871 the government gave them land to build railroads. People wanted to be closer to the railroads. They would charge the farmers high prices to use them. It was easier for people to live by the railroad. Civil War veterans, Irish, Chinese immigrants, African Americans, and Mexican Americans were the ones to build and lay more of the tracking. Rail roads made it easier to transport goods and messages.In 1862, congress passed the Homestead Act. It was meant for the common American and it gave the household leader 160 acres of farm land to farm on. People started taking it for granted. Only 10% of the land that was given out was given to people that actually deserved it. Henry D. Wash burn and Nathaniel P. Lang ford worked with congress to help protect the wilderness from being destroyed by settlement.The farmers started meeting troubles. The trees were very scarce. Many farmers took out loans to pay for machinery. Therefore they were in debt. They made houses out of dirt, mud, and grass. The prices of crops fell in the late 1800's. Some people even took out a second mortgage on their home. Good farmland became limited. Banks were foreclosing on farmers. Railroads were charging high prices. Farmers had to pay back loans in dollars which were worth more than what they actually paid for.
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