Question
Americans usually think of homesteading as something that happened in the 19th century. But homesteading actually went on into the 1970s. And not all homesteaders settled on the grassy Great Plains. Some put down roots in the frozen forests of Alaska.
The Homestead Act of 1862 gave 160 acres (65 hectares) of U.S. land to anyone who wanted it. The price was less than $20. There were rules for keeping the land, though. Homesteaders had to live there. They had to build a house and farm. It was a good deal for homesteaders. But not for Native Americans. The government stole their lands. It sold the lands to homesteaders. Native Americans were pushed out.
The Homestead Act was very popular. People quickly grabbed Native Americans' homelands across the West and Midwest. By the early 1900s, all the "good" land was taken.
But Alaska had what homesteaders wanted: millions of acres of untouched land. People began to move to the frozen north in the early 1900s. Some were farmers or miners. Others just liked adventure.
Alaskan homesteads were usually far from cities. Getting there wasn't easy. The land was often covered in snow. Alaskans had to use planes or snowmobiles. Some even rode dogsleds.
Then homesteaders had to build houses. In the Lower 48, settlers mostly built sod houses. But the ground in Alaska was usually frozen. Sod homes couldn't be built on frozen ground. Instead, Alaskan houses were usually built from timber from the forest.
The next task was farming. But farming in Alaska was tough. The land was covered with huge trees. They had to be cut down. Their giant stumps had to be pulled out. Plus, the growing season was super short. Winters were cold and dark. And there wasn't any place to sell crops. It was hard to make a living.
Homesteading was tough. Most Alaskan homesteaders didn't last. They never got to own their land. But those who stuck with it lived like pioneers. For food, they fished and hunted.
Meanwhile, Alaska's Native people fought for their rights. In 1971, a law was passed. It gave 44 million acres of land back to companies owned by Native people. The companies also were paid some money for their land that was taken by homesteaders.
The Homestead Act ended in 1976. But it continued in Alaska for years after that. The last homesteader was Kenneth Deardorff. Deardorff claimed a plot in southwestern Alaska in 1974. He worked the land for 10 years. By 1988, he owned it. Deardorff doesn't live there anymore. But his home still stands.
Question 1
1 / 8
The Article talks mainly about __________.
homesteading in Alaska
farming in Alaska
how to live like a pioneer
how to build a house from timber
The Homestead Act of 1862 gave 160 acres (65 hectares) of U.S. land to anyone who wanted it. The price was less than $20. There were rules for keeping the land, though. Homesteaders had to live there. They had to build a house and farm. It was a good deal for homesteaders. But not for Native Americans. The government stole their lands. It sold the lands to homesteaders. Native Americans were pushed out.
The Homestead Act was very popular. People quickly grabbed Native Americans' homelands across the West and Midwest. By the early 1900s, all the "good" land was taken.
But Alaska had what homesteaders wanted: millions of acres of untouched land. People began to move to the frozen north in the early 1900s. Some were farmers or miners. Others just liked adventure.
Alaskan homesteads were usually far from cities. Getting there wasn't easy. The land was often covered in snow. Alaskans had to use planes or snowmobiles. Some even rode dogsleds.
Then homesteaders had to build houses. In the Lower 48, settlers mostly built sod houses. But the ground in Alaska was usually frozen. Sod homes couldn't be built on frozen ground. Instead, Alaskan houses were usually built from timber from the forest.
The next task was farming. But farming in Alaska was tough. The land was covered with huge trees. They had to be cut down. Their giant stumps had to be pulled out. Plus, the growing season was super short. Winters were cold and dark. And there wasn't any place to sell crops. It was hard to make a living.
Homesteading was tough. Most Alaskan homesteaders didn't last. They never got to own their land. But those who stuck with it lived like pioneers. For food, they fished and hunted.
Meanwhile, Alaska's Native people fought for their rights. In 1971, a law was passed. It gave 44 million acres of land back to companies owned by Native people. The companies also were paid some money for their land that was taken by homesteaders.
The Homestead Act ended in 1976. But it continued in Alaska for years after that. The last homesteader was Kenneth Deardorff. Deardorff claimed a plot in southwestern Alaska in 1974. He worked the land for 10 years. By 1988, he owned it. Deardorff doesn't live there anymore. But his home still stands.
Question 1
1 / 8
The Article talks mainly about __________.
homesteading in Alaska
farming in Alaska
how to live like a pioneer
how to build a house from timber
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
The Article talks mainly about **homesteading in Alaska**.
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