During the early-mid 1800's, settlers were given incredible deals on land in the west. Laws like the Homestead Act resulted in thousands of American families moving west in order to start their lives as a farming family. The federal government gave away ton of land, often at very cheap prices in order to encourage settlement. During this era, there was no shortage of land as the new territories we gained during westward expansion were scarcely populated in comparison to the 13 original states of the US.
