After the Civil War, Americans abandoned the sectional emphasis brought about by slavery and developed a national approach. During the period 1865-1890, Americans completed the colonization of the West. For farmers and ranchers, the American West was a land of opportunity because land was cheap and the Homestead Act provided land for farmers, including immigrants and blacks, to be able to farm, raise livestock and make profits. The American West was also seen as a land of opportunity for miners because of the gold and silver rush in the far West which they believed would make them rich. However, both groups faced many challenges and few achieved great wealth. The availability of cheap land in the American West provided many Americans with the opportunity to realize the American dream of individualism, economic opportunity, and personal freedom. Immigrants, former slaves, and other settlers moved across the country to become Western farmers and ranchers to start a new life. One of the reasons the West was a land of opportunity for farmers and ranchers was the large amount of land available at low prices. This allowed many Americans, rich and poor, to purchase land to farm crops and raise livestock. The Homestead Act of 1862 made the process easier. The Homestead Act gave title to 160 acres of federal land to farmers who staked a claim and lived on that land for five years. Alternatively, a farmer could purchase the land after six months for $1.25 per acre. Many blacks and immigrants joined the westward expansion, seeking a better life. Immigrants viewed land as an opportunity because many could not own land in their country of birth. For example, in Nebraska, a quarter of the population is foreign born. These immigrants transformed... middle of paper ...... dream of wealth. However, mining companies have benefited. The American West was a land of opportunity for many groups of people from 1865 to 1890. For farmers and ranchers, the American West was a land of opportunity because of the low cost of land resulting from the Homestead. Take action and give Americans, including immigrants and blacks, a chance to realize the American dream and make a profit by growing crops such as cotton for the thriving textile industry and raising cattle for the cattle industry future. For miners, the American West was seen as an opportunity to get rich through the gold and silver rush and was even popular in other parts of the world where immigrants also responded to the rush; although most did not succeed. The American West offered Americans, rich and poor, the opportunity to establish a new life and achieve economic independence..