American Homestead Act

The American Homestead Act, passed in 1862, was a law designed to encourage westward expansion in the United States. It allowed eligible citizens to claim up to 160 acres of public land for a small fee, provided they improved the land by building a dwelling and farming it for at least five years. The goal was to promote settlement and development in the American frontier. Many saw it as an opportunity for a fresh start, but it also displaced Native American populations and contributed to conflicts over land use. It significantly shaped American history and land ownership.