Final answer:
The United States government supported the settlement of the west by passing the Homestead Act in 1862, which provided incentives for settlers to relocate and farm in the West.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States government supported the settlement of the west by passing the Homestead Act in 1862. This act provided generous incentives for Northerners to relocate and farm in the West. Settlers could claim 160 acres of federal land by residing on the property for five years and improving it. The act aimed to encourage westward migration and increase agricultural output for the war effort.