When I first learned about the theme for this year’s National History Day, Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events, I thought my topic would have something to do with Native Americans because I have some Native American heritage. Before I chose my current topic, I chose the Trail of Tears which led me to the Indian Removal Act. When I was conducting background research on this topic, I found the Homestead Act that occurred after the Indian Removal Act. I decided to instead choose this for my topic so I could still research Native Americans while engaging in other information on a turning point in America. The first website I read on the Homestead Act had a title that said "Free Land, Go West Young Men". It caught my attention that free land could be distributed by the government. I became intrigued by the homesteaders, and the Homestead Act of 1862 officially became my topic.
When I decided on the act as my topic I knew little of the Homestead Act’s background. I first researched the history and the timeframe around the Homestead Act. After studying the background and history, I conducted my research based off of my thesis statement. My thesis statement reads that the Homestead Act of 1862 affected the economy of the West, added states to support the idea of Manifest Destiny, and pushed Native Americans further West. I then found information to support my thesis statement from primary sources, websites, quotes, and documentaries.
At the peak of my research I had to decide what media I would use to display my topic. I chose a website to present the Homestead Act. Because the people affected by the act were no longer living I decided a documentary was not a valid choice. I could have written a paper but I thought a website would convey my topic in a manner more pleasing to the eye than a paper. I did not choose an exhibit because the maximum word count was 500 and I felt that my topic could not affectively be portrayed in only 500 words. This led me to a website where I could display my topic with both a reasonable amount of pictures and an adequate number of words to back up my point.
The Homestead Act was a turning point for America because it affected the economy, added states to the West, and it created a rivalry between the South and North. In the end it also pushed Native Americans out of their homes. The act brought about the issue of immigration for both the North and the South after creating a disturbance between them. The Homestead Act brought people together as a nation and gave away a total of 270 million acres of land in 30 different states. There was no longer free range for cattle and Native Americans were no longer free to roam as they pleased. A loss of freedom from an act became a turning point for the nation.
When I decided on the act as my topic I knew little of the Homestead Act’s background. I first researched the history and the timeframe around the Homestead Act. After studying the background and history, I conducted my research based off of my thesis statement. My thesis statement reads that the Homestead Act of 1862 affected the economy of the West, added states to support the idea of Manifest Destiny, and pushed Native Americans further West. I then found information to support my thesis statement from primary sources, websites, quotes, and documentaries.
At the peak of my research I had to decide what media I would use to display my topic. I chose a website to present the Homestead Act. Because the people affected by the act were no longer living I decided a documentary was not a valid choice. I could have written a paper but I thought a website would convey my topic in a manner more pleasing to the eye than a paper. I did not choose an exhibit because the maximum word count was 500 and I felt that my topic could not affectively be portrayed in only 500 words. This led me to a website where I could display my topic with both a reasonable amount of pictures and an adequate number of words to back up my point.
The Homestead Act was a turning point for America because it affected the economy, added states to the West, and it created a rivalry between the South and North. In the end it also pushed Native Americans out of their homes. The act brought about the issue of immigration for both the North and the South after creating a disturbance between them. The Homestead Act brought people together as a nation and gave away a total of 270 million acres of land in 30 different states. There was no longer free range for cattle and Native Americans were no longer free to roam as they pleased. A loss of freedom from an act became a turning point for the nation.