1. Kim Buice Chapman Elementary
Westward Expansion
Kim Buice
Chapman Elementary

2. before Westward Expansion began
How did the US look in 1860?
before Westward Expansion began

3. Homestead Act of 1862 Passed December, 10, 1861
Signed by Lincoln May 20, 1862
Must be a US citizen
Must be 21 years old
Must farm and improve the land for 5 years

4. How many went? by 1900, 600,000 claims were filed
over 80 million acres claimed
most settled in Western Plains states

5. The Settlers Start to Arrive

6. Hardships Begin Grasshoppers and other pests destroy crops
They are very hard to kill

7. And the Hardships Continue
Houses are made of sod.
Weather is harsh
Life is very difficult

8. Finally some success! new technology makes farming easier
threshing machines are available

9. windmills provide power
The successes go on!
windmills provide power

10. The Railroads Come Finally the railroads came Travel was made easier
Goods could be delivered

11. Many people stayed Obviously, many people decided to stay.
The shape of the United States was changed forever.

12. After Homestead Act and massive Westward Expansion
How did the US change?
Map of the US, 1900
After Homestead Act and massive Westward Expansion

13. Credits All photos are courtesy of the Library of Congress
And the American Memory Collection
Maps on frames 4 and 11 are courtesy of American Studies at the University of Virginia