Question

What exactly did the Homestead Act of 1862 do?

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is D. It allowed the government to offer pioneers sixty acres of western land if they lived on it and made improvements to it.

Explanation:

The homestead act was necessary in the government's vision of Manifest Destiny and to expand the country westwards into new territory

As most of the country's wealth and population was in the north-east, it was difficult to promote the newly acquired territories for people to settle in. Without any settlers, there would be no economic activity in the region. Without economic activity, the regions would not provide any significant benefit.

Hence, the Homestead Act gave any American citizen the right to 160 Acres of land to farm and after 5 years, they would own the land. Unfortunately, the act did not bring in the development the government was hoping for as most of this new land make in the hands of Property Speculators.

However, that was not the initial intention which is why option C is wrong.