Question

settling on the great plains
how did each of the following factors help to settle
the west and turn the eastern great plains into the
nation’s “breadbasket”?

causes\teffects

1. land grants given

to the railroads\t

the u.s. federal government has at times encouraged the development of roads, canals, and railroads when it was
beneficial to the nation’s expansion. when the u.s. government decided a transcontinental railroad was necessary,
it stimulated private industry to build one.

railroads, as private companies, needed to engage in profitable projects. so the federal government passed the
pacific railroad act that provided land grants to railroads. this provided public lands to railroad companies in
exchange for building tracks in specific locations. the idea was that with railroad expansion in new territory, settlers
would follow, establish communities, and increase the value of land. railroads could sell their portions of land and
profit from their investment. the federal government hoped the railroad profits would be reinvested for further
expansion.

the u.s. government provided the survey of public lands and divided them into one-mile square sections. the
government kept a portion of the sections. the railroads received alternate sections, in a kind of checkerboard
pattern. the government lands could be offered for homesteading or sold for a profit. supporters of the land grants
program believed it would be successful for all parties.

others were concerned about the relationship between the federal government and private companies. most
railroads provided service to specific regions, but they could profit from shipping goods to and from communities.
those who opposed the land grant program felt railroads were receiving too much of a subsidy. between 1850 and
1870, seven percent of the land in the united states was given to 80 railroads; mostly in the west. railroad
companies were given one-sixth of the land in kansas.

• portions from the kansas journey

according the passage above, why would the railroad companies agree to build new railway lines across the country
with help from the federal government?

Explanation:

To determine why railroad companies agreed, we analyze the passage:

1. The Pacific Railroad Act gave land grants to railroads in exchange for building tracks.
2. Railroads could sell their land portions to profit (settlers following rail expansion would increase land value, allowing railroads to sell land and gain from their investment).
3. They could also profit from shipping goods to/from new communities established by settlers drawn by railroad expansion.

These financial incentives (land sales, shipping profits) and the land grant support from the government motivated them.

Answer:

Railroad companies agreed because:

• The federal government’s Pacific Railroad Act provided land grants (railroads received public lands in exchange for building tracks).
• Railroads could sell their land portions for profit (settler communities from railroad expansion increased land value, letting railroads profit from land sales).
• They could profit from shipping goods to/from new communities formed by settlers attracted by railroad expansion.