USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Homestead Act, enacted during the Civil War in 1862, provided that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. Claimants were required to live on and “improve” their plot by cultivating the land.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Civil War: The Senate’s Story 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.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Homestead Act was one way settlers acquired land in Kansas and other parts of the west. It was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862. Under the provisions of the Homestead Act, settlers could claim 160 acres of public land.