Homestead Act of 1860: Difference between revisions
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The '''Homestead Act of 1860''' in the [[United States]] made land available for 25 cents per acre. This was at a time where northerners had an idea that the government should give {{convert|160|acre|km2|sing=on}} plots of land to pioneers for free. |
The '''Homestead Act of 1860''' in the [[United States]] made land available for 25 cents per acre. This was at a time where northerners had an idea that the government should give {{convert|160|acre|km2|sing=on}} plots of land to pioneers for free. |
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People went to the west to start new lives and for the cheap land. |
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== Opposition == |
== Opposition == |
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There was much worry with the free land idea. The southerners, who were still pro-slavery, worried that this would result in the west becoming populated with free-soilers. This in turn would create many anti-slavery states, creating an unbalance in the Senate more than the South could handle. Another group who opposed this idea was the Eastern industrialists. They feared employees would be drained into the West for free land. |
There was much worry with the free land idea. The southerners, who were still pro-slavery, worried that this would result in the west becoming populated with free-soilers. This in turn would create many anti-slavery states, creating an unbalance in the Senate more than the South could handle. Another group who opposed this idea was the Eastern industrialists. They feared employees would be drained into the West for free land. |
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Revision as of 19:58, 9 September 2008
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The Homestead Act of 1860 in the United States made land available for 25 cents per acre. This was at a time where northerners had an idea that the government should give 160-acre (0.65 km2) plots of land to pioneers for free. People went to the west to start new lives and for the cheap land.
Opposition
There was much worry with the free land idea. The southerners, who were still pro-slavery, worried that this would result in the west becoming populated with free-soilers. This in turn would create many anti-slavery states, creating an unbalance in the Senate more than the South could handle. Another group who opposed this idea was the Eastern industrialists. They feared employees would be drained into the West for free land.
This act was passed by Congress, but was ultimately vetoed by James Buchanan.