Although the homestead act was enacted in 1862, it was not until 1898 that special legislation extended the provisions of the act to the territory of alaska. May, 2016 the massachusetts homestead act is a law mgl chapter 188 under which a homeowner may establish. Signed into law in 1862 by abraham lincoln after the secession of southern states, this act turned over vast amounts of the public domain to private citizens. The senate passed the homestead act by a vote of 33 to 7 on may 6, 1862. The homestead act was based off of farming and marketing for agricultural purposes. Homestead act of 1862 what was it, is it still available. The laws northern supporters had pursued a vision of taming the rough frontier for several decades, as. Passed by congress during the civil war, it had an idealistic goal. The homestead act of 1862 was the first of many acts, signed by president abraham lincoln on may 20, 1862. President lincoln stated that the purpose of the government was to elevate the condition of men, to lift artificial burdens from all shoulders and to give everyone an unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life.
Summary of the homestead act of 1862 background with the secession of southern states from the union and therefore removal of the slavery issue, in 1862, the homestead act was passed and signed into law. An act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain. The worksheet can be printed for offline study, or used to. A similar exemption is available in bankruptcy without filing a. Since the homestead act started during the civil war, that little clause about not fighting against the union excluded nearly half the country. President abraham lincoln signed the act into law on may 20, 1862. The application and qualification process, as burdensome as it was for our ancestors, produced a bumper crop of documents for use by genealogists and family historians. Western expansion the homestead act of 1862 free american.
The homestead acts were several laws in the united states by which an applicant could. See more ideas about old west, homestead act and american history. Settlers deserted their democratic allegiance and were rewarded for supporting the republican party when president abraham lincoln, its first successful candidate, signed into law the homestead act on may 20, 1862. The homestead act of 1862 was a federal law promoting westward expansion by allotting 160 acres of free public land to individual settlers. The homestead act of 1862 allowed people to stake a claim of 160 acres of land. The massachusetts homestead act is a law mgl chapter 188 under which a homeowner may establish. This act allowed any head of household who was a citizen or in the process of becoming one, including freed slaves, to claim 160 acres of. May 20, 1862 act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain. Thehomesteadactandwestwardexpansion download thehomesteadactandwestwardexpansion ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Homestead act of 1862, legislative action that promoted the settlement and development of the american west. Homestead act, homestead act of 1862 map homesteader history. The homestead act may 20, 1862 an act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain. Click download or read online button to thehomesteadactandwestwardexpansion book pdf for free now. President lincoln stated that the purpose of the government was to elevate the condition of men, to lift artificial burdens from all shoulders and to give everyone an unfettered start and a.
The living conditions out in the west were harsh, however, which caused difficulties for homesteaders. The homestead act of 1862 was a landmark in the evolution of federal agriculture law. It was also notable for the opportunity it gave african americans to own land. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the united states of america in congress assembled, that any person who is the head of a family, or who has arrived at the age of twentyone. Designed to spur western migration, the homestead act culminated a twentyyear battle to distribute public lands to citizens willing to farm. The intent of the first homestead act, passed in 1862, was to liberalize the homesteading requirements of the preemption act of 1841. And be it further enacted, that the person applying for the benefit of this act shall, upon application to the register of the land office in which he or she is about to make such entry. It was signed by abraham lincoln on may 20th 1862, as following the secession in the united states, the most vocal opposition in. A primary source history of the settlement of the american heartland in the late 19th century primary sources in american history porterfield, jason on. On january 1, 1863, daniel freeman made the first claim under the act, which gave citizens or future citizens up to 160 acres of public land provided they live on it, improve it, and pay a small registration fee. Two years later, with the civil war raging and southerners out of congress, the homestead act of 1862 became law. Maybe the government had read maslows hierarchy of needs. Passed on may 20, 1862, the homestead act accelerated the settlement of the western territory by granting adult heads of families 160 acres of surveyed public land for a minimal filing fee and 5 years of continuous residence on that land. Make sure you are familiar with the homestead act of 1862 using this interactive quiz.
Settlers with american citizenship moved to thinlypopulated areas in the american territories. Much of the eastern midwest was purchased during the land boom of the 1830s, and most of iowa and wisconsin during the land boom of the 1850s, when the minimal purchase unit was only 40 acres. Primary source the homestead act of 1862 37th congress session ii 1862. It offered homesteaders free title to a quarter section 160 acres of public land if they built a home and improved the property for five years. Signed into law by president abraham lincoln on may 20, 1862, the homestead act encouraged western migration by providing settlers 160 acres of public. Oct 30, 2018 the act was signed into law by president abraham lincoln on may 20, 1862. Homestead exemption application for senior citizens. For multipage documents such as this one, we offer the first and last pages for download below. Homestead act of 1862 be it enacted, that any person who is the head of a family, or who has arrived at the age of twentyone years, and is a citizen of the united states, or who shall have filed his declaration of intention to become such, as required by the naturalization laws of the united states, and who. Also, you have to swear the land is going to be used for shelter and food for you and your family, not anybody else. Search in the 37th congress using the word homestead to find more congressional documents related to the homestead act.
The homestead act was passed by congress on may 20, 1862 to get people to move to the great plains. Be it enacted, that any person who is the head of a family, or who has arrived at the age of twentyone years, and. The images contained within the pdf files available below are of publication quality and will print out at up to 300dpi on standard 812 x 11 paper. Us president lincoln signed the homestead act into law in may of 1862, one year after the civil war had started. President abraham lincoln signed the homestead act on may 20, 1862. Highresolution pdfs of homestead act 1862 our documents. Laminate the information sheet so you can use it year after year. Maybe the government had read maslows hierarchy of. The first of the acts, the homestead act of 1862, opened up millions of acres. Our documents highresolution pdfs of homestead act 1862.
This act allowed any head of household who was a citizen or in the process of becoming one, including freed slaves, to claim 160 acres of unoccupied and surveyed federal land for a small filing fee. Its main purpose was to invite new settlers into the new territories of the west, and to do this, what the act did was to promise 160 acres of public land for settlers for a very small. The images contained within the pdf files available below are. At the time of the signing, 11 states had left the union, and this piece of legislation would continue to. The act provided settlers with 160 acres of surveyed public land after payment of a filing fee and five years of continuous residence. Mar 28, 2018 the senate passed the homestead act by a vote of 33 to 7 on may 6, 1862. Homestead act apush questions might relate to the motivations and consequences of westward expansion, as well as sociopolitical questions it raised. In 1860, a homestead act was passed, but president james buchanan, fearing that the south would use it as an excuse to secede, vetoed the bill.
Even with the lure of free land however, homesteading in the remote territory was slow to start due to poor weather and poor soils and by 1914 less than 200 homestead applications had been. With some of the opposition gone, congress passed the homestead act on may 20, 1862 see document 1. The new law established a threefold homestead acquisition process. The government granted more than 270 million acres of land while the law was in effect. The homestead act of 1862 was largely irrelevant in the midwest, where most of the land had been bought and paid for before the act was passed. It said that any citizen of the united states could claim 160 acres of government land. From the viewpoint of government the homestead act of 1862 was a success. Download pdf thehomesteadactandwestwardexpansion free. Between 1862 and 1934 some 270 million acres had been successfully homesteaded.
Students are given the criteria needed to create their own homestead of 160 acres. President buchanan vetoed, a homestead act in 1860. Homestead act of 1862 summary the homestead act of 1862 was passed by the u. The act was signed into law by president abraham lincoln on may 20, 1862. It allowed the head of a household a man or woman over the age of 21 to claim 160 acres of land and receive title to the land after living on the land for 5 years and improving the land by cultivating it and building a home see image 1. Jun 24, 2010 the homestead act was passed by congress on may 20, 1862 to get people to move to the great plains. After paying a small registration fee, homesteaders had to improve their. After paying a small fee, homesteaders were to improve their land by living on it, building a dwelling home, and planting crops. Homestead act of 1862 the homestead act, passed by congress in 1862, declared that any u. Homestead act of 1862 in this session youll learn how the homestead act of 1862 lured citizens of the united states to procure federal lands west of the mississippi river. On january 1, 1863, daniel freeman made the first claim under the. At the time of the signing, 11 states had left the union, and this piece of legislation would continue to have regional and political overtones.
The homestead act of 1862 was a law established and signed by president abraham lincoln, that sought to encourage new settlement by americans towards the west. They are provided a few wooded areas, a creek, vast grasslands, and an opportunity for a more prosperous life. The major goal of the homestead act in 1862, which took effect on january 1, 1863, was to encourage settlement of the west. The homestead act of 1862 helped the development of the west. The homestead act can be found the united states statutes at large, volume 12, page 392 12 stat. Homestead act of 1862 article about homestead act of 1862. Passed on may 20, 1862, the homestead act accelerated the settlement of the western territory by granting adult heads of families 160 acres of surveyed public. The homestead act of 1862 has been called one the most important pieces of legislation in the history of the united states. This differentiated activity is a fun way to learn about the homestead act of 1862. The homestead act of 1862 37th congress session ii 1862 chapter lxxv. In doing so, freeman became one of the first to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the homestead act, a law signed by president abraham lincoln on may 20, 1862. It provided for the transfer of 160 acres 65 hectares of unoccupied public land to each homesteader on payment of a nominal fee after five years of residence.
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