Title: Why did settlers move to the Great Plains? - eNotes.com
Headings: Western Expansion, Manifest Destiny, and the Mexican-American War
Western Expansion, Manifest Destiny, and the Mexican-American War
Why did settlers move to the Great Plains?
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How did settlers change the Great Plains?
What are some problems that farming on the Great Plains presented to settlers?
Why did people move to the West in the 1800s?
How did the environment of the Great Plains impact Indians' way of life?

Content: The move to the Great Plains presented an opportunity for European immigrants to escape poverty in their home countries. African American settlers also moved to the Great Plains to start their lives as free men. The cheap land accorded them an opportunity to own a factor of production that would go a long way in improving their economic status. American businessmen followed suit, attempting to tap into the emerging market. Their target was the farmers and everyone else moving to the Great Plains. Further Reading
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Settlers moved to the Great Plains for several reasons. One reason was the government was offering 160 acres of land for free if the settler agreed to live on the land for five years. This was part of the Homestead Act of 1862. People had a significant interesting in owning land. This would give people a chance to farm this land.