Because they needed the land to grow crops.
Settlers were initially given 160 acres of land under the Homestead Act of 1862.
160 acres
640
They could claim up to 160 acres (1/4 section). They had to stay on the land and improve the land (ie plant crops, clear the land) before they could get a deed (ownership) to the land.
How many acres are in the UK
Illinois has 35,532,115.2 acres of land. An additional 1,532,556.8 acres is water.
India has 707,714,998 acres of land. Another 74,722,937.2 acres is water.
Connecticut has a land area of 3,100,544 acres.
Idaho has 52,891,596.8 acres of land.
272,877,440 acres.
171,891,840 acres
South Dakota's land area is 49,398,000 acres.