What did the Homestead Act of 1862 provide?

The Homestead Act of 1862 was a significant piece of legislation that aimed to promote westward expansion in the United States. Under this act, individuals could claim 160 acres of public land by paying a small filing fee and committing to live on and improve the land for a period of five years. This initiative was designed to encourage settlement in the western territories and offered an opportunity for ordinary citizens, including immigrants, to own land, which was often seen as the American Dream.

The requirement to improve the land involved cultivating crops, building a dwelling, or making other substantial changes, which helped ensure that the land would be productive. This act reflected the country's belief in providing opportunities for individual land ownership, thereby stimulating economic growth and development in the West. The incentive of land ownership played a critical role in shaping the demographic and economic landscape of the United States during that time.