1862 Institutions

The 1862 Institutions refer to two landmark U.S. laws: the Homestead Act and the Pacific Railway Act. The Homestead Act encouraged westward expansion by granting 160 acres of public land to anyone willing to settle and develop it, fostering growth and new communities. The Pacific Railway Act promoted the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad, linking the eastern U.S. to the Pacific Coast, facilitating commerce and movement. Both acts aimed to expand American territory, promote economic development, and encourage settlement during the Civil War era.