Final answer:
The Homestead Act influenced westward expansion by offering land to settlers who were willing to cultivate it. This attracted many people to move westward, leading to the growth of the agricultural industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Homestead Act influenced westward expansion because it offered land to people who were willing to settle and cultivate it. Under the act, any adult citizen or intended citizen could claim up to 160 acres of public land by paying a small fee, improving the land, and living on it for five years. This incentivized many people to move westward and establish farms, which led to the development of new towns and the growth of the agricultural industry in the expanding frontier.
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