Western Lands Act

The Western Lands Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1796, established a system for surveying and selling land in the western territories of the United States. It aimed to promote westward expansion by making land more accessible to settlers. Under the Act, land was divided into townships and sections, which could be bought reasonably, encouraging ordinary citizens to own property and settle in these new areas. The Act played a significant role in shaping American land policy and facilitated the growth of the nation by encouraging settlement and agricultural development in the West.