The Homestead Act of 1862 pulled settlers to the plains by offering 160 free acres of federal land to any American, including freed slaves.
It helped because it enabled other fronts to open up because the American Offensive in the area ended with a victory, which meant that they could move to other areas and bother Germans there. They didn't' do this however because the fighting ended since the Germans became aware of their losses and signed an armistice.
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The first president was g e o rge washington :)
