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Film Review of Shane (1953) The Homestead Act of 1862, signed by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862, has been called one of the most important pieces of legislation in the history of the United States. The act turned over vast amounts of public lands to private citizens. In all, some 270 million acres of the United States were claimed, or about 10% of the entire area of the country. The act remained in effect until 1976, when it was finally repealed but with provisions for homesteading in Alaska until 1986 (www.nps.gov/home, 1). The only requirement for the homesteader to claim a 160 acre parcel of land was that he be 21 years of age. Settlers came west from all walks of life including newly arrived immigrants, farmers without any land of their own in the East, single women, and former slaves. They came to meet the challenge of “proving up” and keeping this “free land.” The homesteader had to live on the land, build a home, make improvements and farm for five years. A total filing fee of $18 was the only monetary requirement. However, the tremendous personal sacrifices and labor intensive efforts would require a much higher price (nps). But people who live off the soil typically exhibit a strong need for autonomy: they like to be their own bosses. The government’s motive behind the Homestead Act was to spur Western growth. It was enacted into law after a twenty-year battle to distribute public lands to citizens willing to pursue an agricultural livelihood. But it also engendered strong opposition from Northern businessmen who feared it would lower property values and reduce the -2- cheap labor supply. Unlikely allies, Southerners feared homesteaders would add their opposition to slavery. With the South out of the picture in 1862, the legislation finally passed (www.memory.loc.gov 1). Paramount Pictures made the movie Shane in the historical context of the Homestead Act. The time is shortly after the Civil War and feelings remain less than friendly between Southerners and Northerners. The location features spectacular scenery of the Teton Range in northwestern Wyoming.
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