What was the homestead act of 1862

Answer 1

The Homestead Act of 1862 was a law passed by the United States government that enabled settlers to claim up to 160 acres of land in the western territories, provided they lived on and improved the land for a period of five years. This act was designed to encourage westward expansion and promote agricultural development in the newly acquired territories. Thousands of homesteaders took advantage of this opportunity to obtain land and start a new life in the American West.