Westward Migration

Opportunity, Acreage, Environment, and Economy

• During America’s westward migration, pioneers forged long, dusty trails to a land of opportunity.

• In 1776, the U.S. Public Land Act granted bounty land of 100 to 500 acres to those who enlisted in the Continental Army to fight in the American Revolution.

• In 1862, the U.S. Homestead Act opened 270 million acres of land in the public domain to private citizens willing to settle far from home.

• During this same period, the Adams family of this study moved westward to New York, Illinois, Iowa, and beyond to prosper from inexpensive land and an agricultural market boom.

• They followed trails along the Mohawk River and Erie Canal to settle in places like Stephentown, Canajoharie, German Flatts, and Gouverneur, New York. They also followed other pioneers west to settle on prairie lands in Fulton County, Illinois, and Fremont County, Iowa.

• While family members prospered during agriculture market booms, they also faced drought, flood, plague, pestilence, and the Great Depression.