Homestead Act: The Challenges of Living on the Plains
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Dividing the Land:
How it was Divided

Native people understood the geography of the Great Plains. When settlers arrived, they understood land as something that should be owned — by individuals, corporations, or governments. Landmarks and lines on maps told these people where they were and where their land was. Over the years, surveyors drew more and more lines, more and more land was claimed and sold, and more and more settlers moved onto the land.

On the map above, study the geography of what would become Nebraska. Then click through the control bar under the map to see how the lines were drawn.