Shane(1953): Film Review

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 The act remained in effect until 1976, when it was finally repealed but with provisions for homesteading in Alaska until 1986 (www.nps.gov/home, 1).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...