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The main purpose of the Homestead Act of 1862 was to encourage settlement and cultivation of unappropriated public land. An interesting effect was that the Homestead Act was not limited to men and it was adopted by many states. Therefore, it helped to expand a woman's right to own property in the United States.

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13y ago
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15y ago

Because they wanted to make America a better country and gave people a chance to improve a large area of land in 5 years and if they were able to, the land was given to them for free. Because they wanted to make America a better country and gave people a chance to improve a large area of land in 5 years and if they were able to, the land was given to them for free.

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8y ago

Signed into law in May 1862, the Homestead Act opened up settlement in the western United States, allowing any American, including freed slaves, to put in a claim for up to 160 free acres of federal land. By the end of the Civil War, 15,000 homestead claims had been established, and more followed in the postwar years. Eventually, 1.6 million individual claims would be approved; nearly ten percent of all government held property for a total of 420,000 square miles of territory.

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11y ago

To encourage farmers to settle the great plains…

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10y ago

Few settlers had moved to the Great Plains.

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10y ago

i havent gotten to thay unit yet but when i do i will answer that question

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11y ago

for the first time it gave free land to settlers to settle west of the Mississippi river

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8y ago

It offered a potential route out of poverty, encouraged further Immigration from Europe, and contributed to American settlement in western states and territories.

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11y ago

The US government passed the homestead act because they wanted to make the US a better land with power and they wanted to make us a bigger United States.

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3y ago

i'm not sure

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Q: Why did the US government pass the homestead act?
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Related questions

What type of government did the US have during The Homestead Act?

what type of gorvernment did the US have during the Homestead Act?


In 1862 congress passed a law allowing any us citizen to claim 160 acres in the west what was this act called?

The homestead act!


Which of the following helped African Americans and the others move to the western US?

The Homestead Act of 1862.


What was the purpose of the homestead act 1862?

The Homestead Act of 1862 was meant to encourage settlers to western lands and create farmlands. The US government would allow settlers from the East to claim Federal western lands to farming if they met certain requirements. When these requirements were accomplished, the settlers would have free land from the US government.


What was the purpose of the Homestead Act of 1862?

The Homestead Act of 1862 was meant to encourage settlers to western lands and create farmlands. The US government would allow settlers from the East to claim Federal western lands to farming if they met certain requirements. When these requirements were accomplished, the settlers would have free land from the US government.


Why did the US government encourage settlement on the Great Plains?

Why did the US government encourage settlement on the Great Plains?


what was is the purpose of the homestead act?

The Homestead Act of 1862 was meant to encourage settlers to western lands and create farmlands. The US government would allow settlers from the East to claim Federal western lands to farming if they met certain requirements. When these requirements were accomplished, the settlers would have free land from the US government.


Is the Homestead Act still a US law?

No. It was discontinued in 1976. The only state where it remained in effect was Alaska. However, the Homestead Act was discontinued there in 1986.


Similarities and differences of the homestead act and the dawes act?

The homestead act allow applicant to not hold land of up to 160 acres while the Dawes act was away for some Indians to be US citizens.


What act of Congress helped the settlers of the Great Plains?

The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed US Citizens to file for free ownership of up to one section (640 acres) of land from the US Government under certain conditions.


Where did the US get the land it offered people through the Homestead Act?

the native americans


What law was passed for the purpose of populating the us west with farmers?

Homestead act.