13-2 Critical Thinking

The government was very successful in its efforts to promote settlement in the Great Plains. Railroads, land, and immigration were some of the many reasons for settlers to move west. There were a few problems, but the population on the plains greatly increased before the end of the 19th century.
Railroad companies received millions of acres of land from the government for laying track in the frontier. The railroads that were made connected the east to the west, making trade and transportation between the two areas much easier. The companies also sold their land, often to immigrants from Europe. These immigrants and people who were interested in making use of the railroads were encouraged to move into the Great Plains.
The government also supported settlement by passing the Homestead Act. This gave 160 acres of free land to any citizen who was the head of a family. The Homestead Act was successful. It caused a massive land rush that some consider a very important part of American history. Unfortunately, some people used the land for their own gain, taking resources and fencing off some areas, and not all the land was equally fertile. Not much of the land was actually given to its intended owners.
These issues were eventually resolved, and in 1890 the frontier was closed. It was no longer necessary; settlers had taken 19 million acres of land. The government had been incredibly successful. The country expanded and the west was populated.