Southern Homestead Act

The Southern Homestead Act, passed in 1866, aimed to provide land to those in the Southern United States after the Civil War. It offered up to 160 acres of public land to individuals for farming, particularly freed slaves and poor white families, to promote economic recovery and settlement. However, the act largely failed due to poor land quality, bureaucratic obstacles, and lack of resources for farmers. By 1876, much of the land remained unclaimed, limiting its intended impact on helping to rebuild Southern society and improve the livelihoods of its citizens.