The Expansion of America and The Homestead Act of 1862

the greatest President America has ever known. While this is openly and often debated, President Lincolns accomplishments whilst in office are undisputable for how they impacted America and pushed the country forward. Lincoln became President during a tumultuous time in our country. Slavery was a heavily debated and the main cause of division for the union. Lincolns election as President caused the southern states to secede from the union. During this time, Western expansion continued and was highly

of America until he was assassinated during office. Lincoln was president during the civil war. One reason he went to war, was to protect human rights. Lincoln’s political view was all around the rights of citizens. Lincoln was an advocate for the rights of American citizens through his actions of abolishing slavery, inventing the Homestead Act, and his political philosophy. Lincoln helped citizens’ rights, by creating the Homestead Act. “Abraham Lincoln passed the Homestead Act of 1862. It

made to the Homestead Law. I think it worthy of consideration, and that the wild lands of the country should be distributed so that every man should have the means and opportunity of benefitting his condition”- Abraham Lincoln, February 12, 1861 (www.nps.gov). The Homestead Act not only brought free land and opportunities, it also brought a change for man to improve their life or start new in America. There were many other factors that played in opening the west but the Homestead Act provided the

The westward expansion can be marked by a tremendous expansion of industry and agriculture as well as the spread of settlements across the continent. The population of the United states was said that it doubled during this period. Most of the growth was concentrated in the plain states across the continent as well as the Northeast and Midwest. The Northeast became the front runner in the industrial aspect of the land while the south remained mostly agricultural. The west had much to offer and

During the 1860’s America was in a period of economic hardship due to the ongoing demand for materials and money to fund the war. In the South, sufficient money and materials were hard to acquire because the southern economy still depended on the labor of slaves to produce their goods and income rather than factories. The Northern economy used numerous factories to produce goods and make profit for the war, but they still did not have technology that was advanced enough to easily produce all the

105 Professor Horner 10/7/2017 Manifest Destiny Manifest Destiny was an extensively apprehended belief occurred during the 19th century. Manifest destiny was formed and followed in 1840s. It was the belief that Americas expanded the civilization and establishments across the North America, as it was “destined” by God to increase its borders, with no boundary to area or country. All the wandering and growth were part of the spirit of Manifest Destiny, a belief that it was God's will that Americans

The story of the United States has always been one of westward expansion, beginning along the East Coast and continuing, often by leaps and bounds, until it reached the Pacific, what Theodore Roosevelt described as "the great leap westward." The acquisition of Hawaii and Alaska, though not usually included in discussions of Americans expanding their nation westward, continued the practices established under the principle of Manifest Destiny. Even before the American colonies won their independence

The United States immigration and emigration is directly linked with the railroads construction history of the 19th century. The construction of the railroads that facilitated western expansion Immigrants were not only integral to part of the expansion, but they also used the railroad to migrate west and form new immigrant States in the territory. In the early 19 century, United States expanded westward, across the Mississippi River and later to the Pacific Ocean. These western lands, either was

horizon for the majority of American civilians. Prior to the Westward expansion of America, majority of the territory located within the west remained uninhabited and untamed. The Homestead act, which was signed by Lincoln in 1862, provided willing settlers 160 acres of land. The only requirements for the settlers was five years of continuous residence on the land and a small fee. This was a major contributor for western expansion and cultivation of the land. Additionally, this was the one of the

effects on America as a whole through the growth of the industry, such as; encouraged western expansion, enhanced the economy, recognized railroad monopolies, assisted the Union in Civil War, helped keep the country together, and created a high expense cost for the nation. The railroad coexisted with Western Expansion, the railroad allowed for quicker travel and Western Expansion allowed for the railroad business to progress. The Transcontinental Railroad was a product of Western Expansion and the