Final answer:
The U.S. government encouraged western settlement through the Homestead Act, providing land to settlers, and the Pacific Railway Act, which established the transcontinental railroad, along with building forts for protection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The government of the United States encouraged western settlement between 1865 and 1900 through various policies and legislative acts. The Homestead Act of 1862 and the Pacific Railway Act were pivotal in promoting westward expansion. The Homestead Act enabled settlers to claim 160 acres of federal land by residing on it for five years and making improvements. The Pacific Railway Act facilitated the construction of the transcontinental railroad, connecting the east and west coasts and making travel and goods transportation more efficient.
In addition to these acts, federal projects such as the construction of forts provided protection and support to settlers in the West. These actions contributed to rapid urban growth in the West, spurring what would become one of the most significant population shifts in U.S. history since the passage of the Homestead Act.