The Last Frontier

1
The Last Frontier
In 1860, land west of a line from St. Paul to
Fort Worth was largely unsettled.
This is the last frontier.
2
Homestead Act of 1862

• Conditions
• 1. U.S. citizen or had filed papers to become
  one
• 2. 21 years old or head of family or 14 days
  military service
• 3. Never fought against the interests of the
  U.S.
• Terms
• 1. Live on land 5 consecutive years--if not
  possible, could buy for 1.25/acre
• 2. Become a U.S. citizen
• 3. Pay 10 filing fee

3
Shortcomings of the Homestead Act

• best land was already settled
• 160 acres not enough on High Plains
• no attempt to re-locate impoverished urban
  workers
• abuse of cattle ranchers and timber companies

4
1860 - 1900

• 500 million acres were disposed of
• 80 million through Homestead Act
• 108 million through auction
• 300 million given as grants to railroads

5
Period of Great Farm Building
1860 -- 407 million acres in farms 1900 -- 839
million acres in farms
Fa r ms
5.5 million
1.9 million
1900
1860
6
3 Modernization Policies

• 1862 Homestead Act
• 1860 Creation of USDA, with cabinet status
• 1862 Morrill Act, creating LGC

7
Impacts of the Civil War

• slavery abolished
• decreased demand for mechanization
• stimulated domestic demand
• spurred increased production
• triumph of family farm system of production over
  export sensitive, large scale (plantation)
  agriculture

8
Following the Civil War

• Agriculture enters into a recession that lasts
  until 1900
• between 1870 - 1880
• population increased 26
• production rose 53

9
Hard Times The Agrarian Revolt

• meeting high land prices with declining gross
  incomes
• seeking out reasons for tough times on the farms
• railroad rates, agribusiness
• overproduction
• plight in newly settled western states

10
Farmers Response to Tough Economic Times

• Organize and act collectively
• Grange (Patrons of Husbandry) regulate
  railroad
• Farmers Alliance
  form cooperatives
• Populist Movement - William Jennings Bryan
• Turn to government for assistance
• USDA - created in 1862
• US Army - distributed rations to western settlers

11
Post Civil War Recession

• farmers sought relief by urging government to...
• curb the power of monopolists
• create a flexible and liberal monetary system
• reform the tax system

12
Emergence of Regional Specialization
13
Emergence of
Regional Specialization

• Northeast - dairy, truck crops, fruit
• Upper South - tobacco, corn
• Deep South - cotton
• Midwest - Corn Belt - corn, hogs
• Lake States - dairy, forage
• Great Plains - wheat
• Western Range - cattle/sheep grazing
• Pacific West - irrigation - specialty crops

14
Post Civil WarRecession/Depression

• creates recognition for the need to address
  poverty in rural America
• need for modernization
• requires technology science education
• sets the stage for modernization development
• technology
• education
  Reform
• business orientation
  Movement
• cooperation