1860-1900 Government Policies

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After the civil war, government estiabled different policies. Changes occurred one by one. Between 1860-1900, government policies position the farmers and ranchers in the west not only progress on individual opportunity by giving farmers more land opportunity and educational opportunity, but also setback on individual opportunity by giving farmers poor land resource and less market securing credit.

First, government policies made a progress in increasing individual opportunity which specifically about land distribution and education system among the farmers between 1860-1900. For land distribution, one of the policies was the Homestead Act. The Homestead act was the act that encouraged people to move west and develop agriculture in 1862. …show more content…

After five years, they will own that land. ("Homestead”) The Homestead Act was a progress of personal opportunity because farmers have a chance to own their individual land which they never had before. American peasant used to work for other people in the manor that received low income. Most of them did labor works. But when they got their own land, they really became “farmers” this time. In the other way, this policy directly increased the average earnings for every farmer. (Sowards)Also, this policy made farmers felt more confidence for their future life since they have their own land, they don’t need to worried about lost job based on how much they plant, instead, they can concentrate on how to plant crops more productive. Another policy made by the government that helped the progress on American farmers ' individual opportunity on land distribution was the Dawes Act in 1887. The Dawes Act is an act that the government directly took over Indians ' land and divided into allotments for the Indians.("Dawes”) For American farmers, it was a progress because when Indian farmers got the land, it is the same thing as American farmers got the land.When American

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