Talk:Homesteading

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Is this equivalent to the British term- smallholding? Perhaps there should be a link or cross reference, as many British wouldn't know this term.

    Yes, I believe homesteading is basically the same as [Smallholding].

Was "ANYONE" allowed to claim land? I would be surprised if black Americans were allowed to participate in this land grab at that time. Someone with some knowledge of this please look into this.

Yes, particularly after the passing of the 14th amendment in 1868 granting citizenship to black American's. By 1890, more than 130,000 people of African descent had moved to Oklahoma alone for the opportunity to homestead.

I would point out that the Homestead Act of 1862 was passed during the Civil War, therefore any US law would have had no effect upon the seceeded states. Also, the term "anyone" would be incorrect. Only a family head or person that was at least 21 years of age could claim the land. Heritage Farmer 00:15, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Removal of Comments

I removed these comments under "Current Practice" I don't think it was appropriate & is spamming.

[Okay, let's stop bashing the 'White Man'. Contrary to Revionist History, it is not true that the first Transcontinental Railroad opened to West to primarily "White Homesteading". All races of peoples and Americans, including Negroes, Spanish, Mexican, and numerous Eastern European races migrated West during the period of 1870 to 1885, not just "whites". Similarly, all of these various races unfortunately participated, to a greater or lesser extent, in the forceable relocation and often extermination of the American Indians. Now the same Indian tribes are making hundreds of millions of dollars with their casinos...not a bad trade off... ]

Bill-

May 01, 2007