The American West was promoted by the federal government to Americans who had hopes of creating a new life by passing the Homestead Act in 1862 (Schultz 2014). What the Homestead Act offered settlers was the award of 160 acres of land for anyone who would occupy it for five years and by 1890 over 2 million residents had established farms in the West. The Northern government officials, which were in control of Congress in 1862, were in favor of settling the Western territories, so along with promoters they glamorized the idea to where it was more appealing. Who the Homestead Act attracted were new immigrants, African Americans, and Northerners who wanted to avoid industrialization from their hometowns (Schultz 2014). Consequently, for the ones who abandoned the venture, corporations were waiting to buy the land for their own projects which were known as the bonanza farms which employed low-paid laborers to work them. …show more content…
Accordingly, the railroad had a huge impact on how populations were distributed across the West. For instance, areas that were settled were abandoned if the railways detoured the majority of the people. The railroad resulted in large cities popping up at key stopping places across the Western territories. The cattle industry profited the most from the railroads, especially since the innovation of the refrigerated rail cars. The image of becoming a cowboy attracted many men West, but there was limited employment since the experience was expected. The final reason for industrialization of the West was mining in the forms of gold, silver, copper, and