Question

Why did Congress pass the Homestead Act of 1862?

A) to encourage settlement of recently acquired western territories such as Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and other territories

B) to force native Americans to assimilate into American culture;

C) to combat government and corporate corruption at both the federal and state levels;

D) to rebuild the South after the Civil War.

Answer 1

The Homestead Act of 1862 was passed to encourage western settlement, prevent the expansion of slavery, and support the Union war effort during the Civil War. It granted settlers land with the condition of improving it, tied to Lincoln's 'free soil' policy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Congress passed the Homestead Act of 1862 primarily to encourage settlement of recently acquired western territories and to increase agricultural output to support the Union during the Civil War. The Act provided settlers with 160 acres of federal land as long as they lived on it for five years and made improvements such as cultivating fields and building homes. This act was deeply tied to President Abraham Lincoln's hopes to prevent the westward expansion of slavery and to populate the western territories with settlers who shared the 'free soil' philosophy, ensuring that these new areas would be free states rather than slave states. The creation of the transcontinental railroad was also facilitated by Congress to improve the accessibility and development of the West. Overall, this legislation represented a significant Federal government initiative to develop the West, secure Union support, and strengthen the concept of free soil.