The Homestead Act

_____________________ signed the Homestead Act on May 20, 1862.

• Abraham Lincoln

• Thomas Jefferson

• Meriwether Lewis

• William Clark

The law gave settlers the chance to get __________ acres of free land from the federal government

• 100

• 120

• 140

• 160

The Homestead Act had many goals. Select all that apply.

• to encourage settlement of the West

• to prepare for the Civil War

• to rebuild the economy after the Civil War

• to help African Americans and other poor people own land

The Homestead Act ended poverty issues as people moved West.

• true

• false

Even for those who afford all of the supplies needed to farm the land, farming was NOT easy.

• true

• false

_______________________ was the first step to claiming land through the Homestead Act.

• Pay a small filing fee.

• Spend five years "improving" your land by building a house.

• Apply through the Bureau of Land Management.

• Plant crops on your land.

Which of these was NOT part of the Homestead Entry form?

• name of the claimant

• address of the land to be claimed

• name of slave owner or plantation

• inventory of your livestock (animals)

If you didn't want to wait five years to own your land, which of these would allow you to owner your land earlier:

• live on your land for at least 3 months, show improvements, and pay $1.00 per acre

• live on your land for at least 4 months, show improvements, and pay $1.15 per acre

• live on your land for at least 5 months, show improvements, and pay $1.20 per acre

• live on your land for at least 6 months, show improvements, and pay $1.25 per acre