Answer
The Homestead Act was passed as a requirement for applicants to live and improve the land located in West of Mississippi River and after 5 years to be granted freehold title.The U.S government wanted to encourage the development of the economies in the West and to support the improvement of industrial practices.
Explanations
In 1862 the Homestead Act was passed and signed to establish a 3-fold homestead acquisition process. The process involved the filling of an application, improving of the land and filing for deed of title. A U.S citizen with no previous borne arms against the U.S government was qualified to file an application and lay claim to 160 acres of surveyed government land. For five years that person was supposed to live in that land and improve it including growing of crops then he or she could then file for the patent.