HIST 2112 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Central Pacific Railroad, Pacific Railroad Acts, United States Territorial Acquisitions
Document Summary
Americans felt increasingly compelled to fulfill their manifest destiny . More americans wanted to settle westward, but the land was already occupied by native. The government created removal and exclusion acts/laws in which legally got rid of other ethnicities. In turn, especially for native americans, they fought back for their land, but the u. s. militia was too powerful. Manifest destiny (1840s): term coined by john o"sullivan, initial purpose was to encourage purchasing texas territory but instead encouraged westward settlement. Lincoln was concerned about the expansion of slavery westward due to early union losses in the civil war, so he created: Homestead act (1862): allowed any head of household or individual over the age of 21 (including unmarried women) to receive a parcel of 160 acres after 5 years occupation for a small filing fee. While land is essentially free under the act, farm necessities were hard to obtain because of undeveloped market economics.
