Final answer:
The Homestead Act allowed any American to claim up to 160 acres of publicly owned land in the western United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is Homestead Act. The Homestead Act, signed into law in 1862, allowed any American citizen, or intended citizen, to file for a claim of up to 160 acres of publicly owned land. This act was intended to encourage settlement and economic development of the western United States. Individuals who met the requirements and successfully filed their claim could eventually gain ownership of the land after meeting certain conditions, such as residing on the land, improving it, and paying a small fee.
Learn more about Homestead Act