Final answer:
The Homestead Act allowed individuals to claim land in the western territories of the United States to promote westward expansion and agricultural development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the Homestead Act, the United States government provided a way for individuals to obtain land in the western territories. This act was passed in 1862 during Abraham Lincoln's presidency. It allowed any adult citizen or intended citizen, including freed slaves, to claim up to 160 acres of federal land. To gain full ownership of the land, the settler had to live on it for five years, improve it, and pay a small registration fee. This act aimed to encourage westward expansion, settle the land, and promote agricultural development.
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