Final answer:
Individuals, including women and former slaves, were historically entitled to secure land grants from the Federal Government through initiatives like the Homestead Act. Women could secure land by meeting certain criteria and paying a nominal fee. Land grants have been a fundamental part in settling and developing the United States, as well as in providing economic rights to marginalized groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals entitled to secure a grant of land from the Federal Government historically included heads of households and those over the age of twenty-one, inclusive of women and, at times, former slaves. Specifically, under the Homestead Act, women had the right to obtain land in their own names as they were considered eligible if they were the head of the household or over twenty-one. To secure a grant, they had to improve the land by clearing acres, constructing buildings, or maintaining livestock and pay a nominal fee.
Throughout American history, land grants played a pivotal role in the settlement and development of the country. For instance, during the 1800s, the federal government supported states and infrastructure projects via land grants. These grants also provided a means of self-governance and homesteads to freedmen after the Civil War as part of General Sherman's Special Field Order No. 15.
The historical context surrounding land grants reflects both personal and economic rights, as well as the political influence of the national government on state actions. The rights of women during this time, including property ownership, were quite limited, and the ability to own land in their own name represented a significant economic right, though not all women, particularly women of color, had equitable access to these rights.