HOMESTEAD ACT OF 1862

DEFINITION

• The homestead act was a piece of legislation passed by the United States
• Congress and signed into law by president Abraham Lincoln in 1862.
• Under the law people could claim a set amount of land if they lived on it for
• 5 years while also farming it

HOMESTEAD ACT 1862

• Enacted during the civil war
• To secure homestead to actual settlers on the public domain

PUBLIC DOMAIN

• No one is the owner the government owns it

WHO CAN GET LAND FROM THE GOVERNMENT

• Head of the family or over 21.
• A U.S citizen

GOVERNMENT ENTICING PEOPLE TO SETTLE IN GREAT PLANES

• Government giving free land to
• People who are willing to farm it.