Question

The federal land law that played a major role in helping settle the American west which allowed families to stake a claim of up to 160 acres of land, live on it for 5 years and own it, or live on it 6 months and purchase the land for $1.25 an acre was called __________.

Answer 1

The Homestead Act of 1862 played a critical role in settling the American West by allowing families to claim up to 160 acres of land with the promise to improve it through cultivation and construction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The federal land law that played a major role in settling the American West and allowed families to stake a claim of up to 160 acres of land, live on it for 5 years, and own it, or live on it for 6 months and purchase the land for $1.25 an acre, was called the Homestead Act of 1862.

This act was part of a broader federal effort to encourage western migration and advance the goal of settling the new territories. By providing land at little to no cost, the government sought to stimulate the economy and support the 'free soil' policies of the Northern states during the Civil War period. Moreover, this legislation was in line with earlier land laws such as the Land Ordinance of 1785, which facilitated land sales in the Northwest Territory.

Characteristic to the Homestead Act was that it allowed any head of household, or individuals over the age of twenty-one, including unmarried women, to receive a parcel of land. They were required to improve the land by building homes and cultivating fields, thereby contributing to the growth of agrarian communities and the expansion of the United States.