Question

How did the Homestead Act of 1862 contribute to the changes shown on the graph

A) The government gave funds to railroad companies in the West.
B) The government funded large-scale irrigation projects in the West.
C) The government promised to buy cash crops from farmers in the West.
D) The government provided land to settlers in the West.

Answer 1

The Homestead Act of 1862 provided land to settlers in the West to stimulate westward expansion, with the requirement of improving the land by setting up homes and farms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Homestead Act of 1862 played a pivotal role in the changes related to westward expansion in the United States. Contrary to providing funds to railroad companies (A), funding irrigation projects (B), or promising to buy cash crops (C), the correct answer is (D) that the government provided land to settlers in the West. Through the Homestead Act, settlers could claim 160 acres of federal land if they resided on it for five years and made improvements such as building homes and cultivating fields. This act significantly contributed to the westward migration and the development of the American West by incentivizing settlers with land ownership opportunities, thereby promoting a 'free soil' mindset that opposed the expansion of slavery.