estead Act did not work as planned, very few people could afford to move west, buy farm equipment, and have enough money to support their family for a year or two before the farming became productive. Congress tried to fix the Homestead Act with the Timber Culture act, which was the western version of the Homestead Act. This act passed in 1873 was a success, it entitled the settlers to another 160 acres if they planted trees on a quarter of it, it gave the necessary land for farmers and gave much needed forestation to the west. Another act that was pushed hard for the west was the Desert Land Act of 1877 this act was supported by cattle ranchers 640 acres at 1.25$ and acre.Many of our nations factories that contributed greatly to the industrial era, also had major downfalls. These factories contributed to poor living conditions, poor wages, child labor, and numerous other political and economical problems. They also contributed to growing gap between the rich industrial tycoons and the poor factory workers. Then many investors got into the railroad business, which caused fierce competition between companies, by not working together they caused there own problems. They ended up with railroad rails that changed gauges every town, this meant they where no longer useable. By doing this they sent the economy into a recession, the Panic of 1893 caused by the railroad companies who would not work together, the economy was saved by bankers who took control of the railroads which solved many of he economic problems that were caused by the railroad companies.The vary same things that helped to expand the country and make it great, also created problems. It is not to say that these problems could have been prevented, although greedy men did not create all of the problems of this era, they created a majority of them. These failures and achievement of our country has molded us into the country we are today, we have laws in place ...
