RECONSTRUCTION 1865 1877
HOMESTEAD ACT
|
Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
|
|
|
factory owners who wanted to reduce the power of unions
|
|
|
Native Americans who wanted to protect their way of life
|
|
|
farmers who wanted to purchase land in western territories
|
|
|
supporters of slavery who wanted its expansion to new territories
|
Detailed explanation-1: -Most of the land went to speculators, cattle owners, miners, loggers, and railroads. Of some 500 million acres dispersed by the General Land Office between 1862 and 1904, only 80 million acres went to homesteaders. Indeed, small farmers acquired more land under the Homestead Act in the 20th century than in the 19th.
Detailed explanation-2: -The incentive to move and settle on Western territory was open to all U.S. citizens, or intended citizens, and resulted in 4 million homestead claims, although 1.6 million deeds in 30 states were actually officially obtained. Montana, followed by North Dakota, Colorado and Nebraska had the most successful claims.
Detailed explanation-3: -To help develop the American West and spur economic growth, Congress passed the Homestead Act of 1862, which provided 160 acres of federal land to anyone who agreed to farm the land. The act distributed millions of acres of western land to individual settlers.