The Homestead Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862. Its primary purpose was to encourage Western migration and settlement by providing land to individuals willing to live on and cultivate it.
The key provisions of the act were as follows:
Land Distribution: The act made available 160 acres (about 65 hectares) of public land to settlers for a small fee, provided they improved the land by building a dwelling and cultivating crops.
Requirements for Settlers: To qualify for the land, settlers had to be at least 21 years old or the head of a family, a U.S. citizen or intending to become one, and they had to pay a small fee. They also needed to live on the land, build a dwelling, and cultivate crops for a period of five years before gaining full ownership.
Explain the Homesteaders Act