HIS 202 Chapter 15: Ch. 15 Notes
Document Summary
The inhospitable landscape west of the mississippi river did not stop settlers from moving west in search of cheap land. The american dream brought them out to the great plains, despite the arid air and lack of rainfall. Settlers could buy thousands of acres of land for their livestock, and various companies arose to take advantage of the new, growing settlements. The federal government gave plenty of incentive for new settlers to move west in search of a fresh start, and even offered grants of money for transporting mail and military provisions. Various legislations made it extremely enticing for companies to move west. Railroad companies, in particular, thrived due to no small amount of financial assistance from europe. The transcontinental railroad spanned across the great plains from california to iowa, and allowed faster transit (about 7 times faster) across the expansive plains. The federal government offered cheap land to settlers, which paved the way for mining, lumber, and railroad companies.
