Lesson 71 of 84 · Westward Expansion
⭐ 30 XPThe Homestead Act
The Homestead Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862.
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Then & Now
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The Homestead Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. This act aimed to encourage westward expansion by providing 160 acres of public land to any adult citizen who could pay a small fee and agree to live on and improve the land for five years. The Homestead Act was significant because it offered many families the opportunity to own land and start new lives, which shaped the settlement of the American West. However, not everyone benefited equally, as many Native Americans and others were displaced from their ancestral lands.
Key Facts
The Homestead Act was enacted in 1862.
It offered 160 acres of land to settlers willing to improve it.
Over 1.6 million homesteads were claimed under the act.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2What did the Homestead Act provide to settlers?
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