Final answer:
The Stock Raising Homestead Act was a piece of legislation passed in 1916 that allowed ranchers and farmers to claim land for grazing livestock in western states. It aimed to promote agricultural development in arid regions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Stock Raising Homestead Act was a piece of legislation passed on December 29, 1916, by the United States Congress. This act allowed ranchers and farmers to claim up to 640 acres of land in certain western states for the purpose of grazing livestock. The act was aimed at promoting agricultural development in arid and semi-arid regions.