What was a major reason for the high failure rate (nearly 60%) among original homesteaders?
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Correct answer: The inability to survive the harsh environment and economic isolation
Extreme weather, locust plagues, low crop prices, and the sheer loneliness of the plains drove many 'back East.' Success required significant capital for machinery and several years of good weather, which were not always available.
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More Homestead Act questions
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- The Homestead Act contributed to the decline of Native American cultures primarily by:
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- Which 1890 Census finding signaled the symbolic end of the Homestead era?
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- Which political party was the primary advocate for the Homestead Act during the mid-19th century?