Question

How did the Homestead Act help people settle in the West? This Act:

granted farmers land

provided seeds to farmers

built free homes for farmers

bought farmers’ crops

Answer 1

The Homestead Act primarily **granted farmers land**. Enacted in 1862, it allowed individuals to claim ownership of a parcel of up to 160 acres of public land, provided they improved it by building a dwelling and cultivating the land for a certain period. This act incentivized westward expansion and assisted many families in settling in the West by making land accessible to a larger population. While the act did not include provisions for seeds, homes, or crop purchasing, it was instrumental in encouraging settlement by giving land to those willing to work it.