Final answer:
Under the Homestead Act of 1862, a homesteader could receive 160 acres of land for a nominal fee. They had to improve the land within five years to keep it.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the Homestead Act of 1862, a homesteader could receive a parcel of 160 acres of land for a nominal filing fee. To keep the land, the homesteader was required to improve it within five years of taking possession. This could involve clearing a few acres, building small houses or barns, or maintaining livestock.