Dramatic Rise of Population in the West in the

In the late 19th and Early 20th Centuries, there was a dramatic rise in the population of Western America. There were many factors that contributed to the increased census. The Homestead Act, the completion of the transcontinental railroad, and the opening of lands with the removal of Indians, were a few of the many examples of western expansion. The Homestead Act, which became law on Jan. 1, 1863, allowed anyone to receive 160 acres of free land. The …

…them move on West. This caused the Trail of Tears, in which 4,000 Cherokee people died of cold, hunger, and disease on their way to the western lands. Though many Indians died, still some did make it over to the West, causing the population to rise. There were many different reasons in which the West’s population grew. In my opinion, the Homestead Act was the biggest factor, because it actually motivated people to move west.