Final answer:
True, a homestead provides special protections for property used as a family home, but not all states recognize this concept. The Homestead Act of 1862 helped settle the American west by enabling citizens to claim and improve federal land.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a homestead is a type of estate that gives the owner special protections in property used as a family home is true, but it is also true that not all states recognize the homestead concept. The Homestead Act of 1862 was a significant piece of legislation that enabled American citizens to claim and improve upon federal lands. It allowed any head of household, or individual over the age of twenty-one, including unmarried women, to receive a parcel of 160 acres for only a nominal filing fee. The requirement was to "improve the land" by building homes and utility buildings, cultivating fields, and maintaining livestock, within five years of taking possession. This act facilitated westward migration and helped fulfill the concept of Manifest Destiny. The government transferred over 270 million acres of public domain land into private hands due to this act and other governmental initiatives. However, this represented only 30 percent of the available land; the remaining land was often sold to those with the financial means to buy the most desirable lands. The homestead concept has played a critical role in American land settlement history.