Answer: C. Enslaved people freed by the Emancipation Proclamation
Explanation: The Homestead Act of 1862, which was repealed in 1976 (expect in Alaska in 1986), allowed formerly enslaved people aged 21 years old or head of household to purchase deeds within 30 states. This resulted in about 1.6 million deeds being purchased and claimed. In addition, homesteaders needed to remain on property for at least five years, agree to farm the land, make improvements, build a house on site, and could not have borne arms against the US government. At the time, a claim cost $18 and the homesteaders were entitled to the land after five years of residency.
Unfortunately the Homestead Act had some negative effects on the indigenous people who had different ideologies from the homesteaders on land ownership. Many Native Americans were pushed into reservations.