In order to file a claim, an individual had to be at least 21 years of age and be the head of household. Learn the homestead act of 1862 with free interactive flashcards. Introduction history the homestead act of 1862 provided ownership of 160 acres of land in the west to anyone who lived on and developed the land for five years. History of alaska homesteading bureau of land management. The 1862 homestead act accelerated settlement of u. Dominion lands, pennsylvania, including videos, and read homestead act of 1862 homestead act n. It was signed into law by president abraham lincoln on may 20, 1862. Over the years, the taylor grazing act founded in 1934 would considerably decrease the amount of land that was available to homesteaders. President abraham lincoln signed the homestead act on may 20, 1862. Montana historian for kids pdf h is the homestead law.
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. 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. It is located on one of the first documented homestead, which belonged to daniel freeman. President buchanan vetoed, a homestead act in 1860. The homestead act of 1862 is recognized as one of the most revolutionary concepts for distributing public land in american history. This was the first homestead act where settlers could obtain up to 160 acres without cost other than certain filing fees by meeting requirements to live on the land in a habitable dwelling for 5 years and cultivate the land. Homestead act of 1862 summary the homestead act of 1862 was passed by the u. The homestead act may 20, 1862 an act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain. Students will be introduced to the primary resource, the homestead act of 1862, and dissect the first two sections of the act. Unlike the homestead act of 1862 or the enlarged homestead act of 1909, land homesteaded under the 1916 act separated surface rights from subsurface rights, resulting in what later became known as split estates. Act of may 20, 1862 homestead act, public law 3764, 05201862. President abraham lincolns signing of the homestead act on may 20, 1862 granted americans 160acre plots of public land for the price a small filing fee. The homestead act 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. This act was recently named one of the most significant documents in u.
The 1862 homestead act provided free land conditional on. Commuting or buying out a homestead the original 1862 homestead act allowed homesteaders under certain conditions to get title to their claims faster than their time requirement to live on the claim five years, later three years. Designed to spur western migration, the homestead act culminated a twentyyear battle to distribute public lands to citizens willing to farm. The homestead act is found in volume 12 of statutes at large, pp. The site includes tall grass prairie, woodland, and historic.
This law allowed women to file claims and own land. The homestead act of 1862 offered 160 acres of land 80 acres within the railroad grant areas free to any head of family or person over 21 years of age who was a citizen of the united states or who had filed a declaration of intent to become a citizen in exchange for simply residing on the land for five years and improving it. The homestead act, enacted during the civil war in 1862, provided that any adult. 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. The homestead act of 1862 helped the development of the. The homestead act of 1862 was created by congress to provide settlers with land in the western united states. The homestead act of 1862 helped the development of the west by a. The homestead act of 1862 everything you need to know.
The homestead act can be found the united states statutes at large, volume 12, page 392 12 stat. Act of may 20, 1862 homestead act, public law 3764 12. The senate passed the homestead act by a vote of 33 to 7 on may 6, 1862. A study of homestead files and entryman applicants 19061937. Then began a period of time in which to fulfill the requirements of the particular homestead act under which he or she was filing. The homestead national monument of america was established in 1936 to commemorate the homestead act of 1862 and the lives of the homesteaders who came to nebraska and other homestead states. 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. During this time, the claims for homesteads would sharply decline. The act provided settlers with 160 acres of surveyed public land after payment of a filing fee and five years of continuous residence. Kennedy called the act the single greatest stimulus to national development ever enacted. 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.
Anyone, including women and minorities, was qualified to receive land under this act. Kansas south dakota colorado north dakota oklahoma new mexico montana texas nebraska wyoming using the population charts determine the population of the plains states in 1860, 1870, and 1880 and create a graph with the data. Two general land office glo officials worked at the land office. The act also required a person to be a citizen of the united states or declare inten. An act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain. A primary source history of the settlement of the american heartland in the late 19th century primary. 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. 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. The homestead act of 1862 was the first of many acts, signed by president abraham lincoln on may 20, 1862. Eyes on the economy, national council on economic education, new york, n. Land and the roots of africanamerican poverty aeon ideas. For landowners, the homestead act of 1862 was considered to be one of the most important steps in united states history for land distribution.
Choose from 290 different sets of the homestead act of 1862 flashcards on quizlet. Highresolution pdfs of homestead act 1862 our documents. Us president lincoln signed the homestead act into law in may of 1862, one year after the civil war had started. The homesteader had to live on the land for a minimum of five. 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. After paying a small registration fee, homesteaders had to improve their. To qualify you must be a kansas resident, living in kansas the entire year.
Homestead act and population of plains states assignment. The homestead act of 1862 was created by congress to provide settlers. Using a map of the united states in 1862, have students identify states and settlements, noting the differences east and west of the mississippi river. Homestead act of 1862 the homestead act, passed by congress in 1862, declared that any u. Homestead national monument of america greening charrette. They will understand the main concepts of the acts and use that information to write a letter to a relative explaining why they moved to ohio. The homestead act of 1862 flashcards and study sets quizlet. Signed into law by president abraham lincoln on may 20, 1862, the homestead act encouraged western migration by providing settlers 160 acres of public. A primary source history of the settlement of the american heartland in the late 19th century primary sources in american history porterfield, jason on. However, there were some provisions for the homestead act that remained in effect in the state of alaska until 1986. Highresolution pdfs of homestead act 1862 please note that these files are quite large 23 megabytes and may take over an hour to download on a 28. An amendment to the homestead act of 1862, the enlarged homestead act, was passed in 1909 and doubled the allotted acreage from 160 to 320 acres 65 to 129 ha in marginal areas.
Under the provisions of the homestead act, settlers could claim 160 acres of public land. The homestead act of 1862 and later acts were responsible for help ing settle the. Secretary of state includes a questions and answers pamphlet on who may file, where to file, and an overview of the protections homestead offers and forms. Homestead act of 1862, legislative action that promoted the settlement and development of the american west. Potential settlers viewed the homestead act as a virtual gift, a way to get a fresh start in life.
Discuss the population movement and transportation modes of the time. This past year marked the 150th anniversary of the homestead act. The debate and consequences of the homestead act of 1862. The refund is based on a portion of the property tax paid on a kansas residents home. Pdf race, ethnicity, and the homestead act of 1862. President abraham lincoln signed the act into law on may 20, 1862. Please note that these files are quite large 23 megabytes and may take over an hour to download on a 28. For multipage documents such as this one, we offer the first and last pages for download below. The homestead act was one way settlers acquired land in kansas and other parts of the west. The written word endures, april 1976 august 1979, national archives circular gallery, washington, dc, exhibit no.
They paid a small filing fee and then had two options for getting title to the land. Includes images of original primary source documents, lesson plans, teacher and student competitions, and educational resources. Homestead, lowell deeds blog collection of blog posts from the everhelpful lowell register of deeds. Homestead act kansapedia kansas historical society. In total, the act granted 10% of the land in the united states to 1. The homestead act of 1862 37th congress session ii 1862 chapter lxxv. The final session met from december 1, 1862 march 3, 1863. Featuring 100 milestone documents of american history from the national archives.
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 stockraising homestead act of 1916 provided settlers 640 acres 260 ha of public landa full section or its equivalentfor ranching purposes. Our documents highresolution pdfs of homestead act 1862. Newland act allowed the secretary of the interior to withdraw lands. The homestead acts were unquestionably the most extensive, radical, redistributive governmental policy in us history. The homestead act, which became law on may 20, 1862, was responsible for helping settle much of the american west. It was also notable for the opportunity it gave african americans to own land. Another amended act, the national stockraising homestead act, was passed in 1916 and granted 640 acres 260 ha for ranching purposes. Search in the 37th congress using the word homestead to find more congressional documents related to the homestead act. The civil warera act, considered one of the united states most important pieces of legislation, led to western expansion and allowed citizens of all walks. The homestead refund is a rebate program for the property taxes paid by homeowners. The number of adult descendants of the original homestead act recipients living in the year 2000 was estimated to be around 46 million people, about a quarter of the us adult population.