jan 1, 1862 - Congress enacts the Homestead Act of 1862

Description:

Before: Northern infrastructure like roads and canals/innovation keep northerners well fed and their troops mobile. Congress wanted to assist economic development to further mobilize northern resources with high tariffs to encourage domestic industries. They created an integrated network of national banks and a transcontinental railroad

during: they boosted agricultural output with this act by giving free land to farmers

After: all these efforts helped the Union's war effort (industries arose to create and transport soldiers' guns/clothes/food) and won support from farmers, workers, and entrepreneurs. Gov spending increased w/ Republicans creating a modern system of public finance (increased tariffs, taxes on business corporations, interest-paying bonds by U.S. Treasury that were mostly bought by banks with the National Banking Acts of 1863 and 1864 and northern families as a patriotic act, and printing paper money)

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