WI: British Homestead Acts

[GlobalHumanism]

Thanks to the succession of US Homestead Acts, the British agricultural sector of the mid to late 1800s found itself under siege from collapsing grain prices, brought on the massive influx of cheap bushels from newly settled American plots in the midwestern plains.

Now could Great Britain, who until then dominated the global agricultural market, have done anything similar to compete? Were comparable British Homestead Acts feasible in areas across the empire? And if so where do you think might be the most plausible/lucrative place for it/them?

Bonus Points if you can speak on what effect a burgeoning class of British Yeoman farmers might have on the social politics of the day.

 

[Wolttaire]

This could not be done in mainland Britain the only good place would be South Africa but that would mean moving even more people maybe if the pop of non English fell dramatically like the boers and they fled north they could set up shop there

 

[The Gunslinger]

This is pretty much how western Canada was settled.

 

[Frrf]

Australia, too.

 

[Lusitania]

In Canada there are several major times of settlement. Prior to confederation (1867) there was a major push to settle upper Canada (Ontario). In some ways this could of been also been used to settle the British Columbia and Oregon area by British but that would of meant a major change in that colonies administration.

Following confederation and building of railway the prairies were settled this way.

But unfortunately for Canada and rest of British empire the decision to open Britain to cheap American grain had a negative impact to Canadian farmers just like it did to British farmers. So in some ways having Britain not enact free trade with US would of helped increase Canadian and I am certain South African and even Australia grain production.

 

[GlobalHumanism]

In Canada there are several major times of settlement. Prior to confederation (1867) there was a major push to settle upper Canada (Ontario). In some ways this could of been also been used to settle the British Columbia and Oregon area by British but that would of meant a major change in that colonies administration.

Following confederation and building of railway the prairies were settled this way.

But unfortunately for Canada and rest of British empire the decision to open Britain to cheap American grain had a negative impact to Canadian farmers just like it did to British farmers. So in some ways having Britain not enact free trade with US would of helped increase Canadian and I am certain South African and even Australia grain production.

So couldnt the same have be done within Africa or thr Raj to help compensate?

 

[Lusitania]

So couldnt the same have be done within Africa or thr Raj to help compensate?

Yes although I wonder if british wish to control a greater percentage of agricultural land especially before 1870s when the Canadian railway was built to access Canadian prairies.

Australia and South Africa also good places although with South Africa not sure what potential there was.

Now for this British homestead act to work the British would need to both support and provide encentives for immigrants and not only from British isles.

Lastly I wonder how possible this is since the British went free trade route to get lower tariffs on British goods in US which was a very important market. Something would need to change in the US-British relations for the British to keep high tariffs on non empire grain.