Definition and Summary: The Homestead Act of 1862 was passed by Congress on May 20, 1862 during the Civil War (1861-1865) following the secession of the Southern states. homestead. The Homestead Act of 1862 was a significant U.S. law that promoted the settlement and development of the American West. The Homestead Act was "An Act to secure Homesteads to actual Settlers on the Public Domain". Most settlers moved to the Great Plains, which offered settlers very few timber resources in this scarcely forested area. Millions of Americans including immigrants, women, and formerly enslaved men and women would make the dream of westward expansion a reality for this … Those improvements required settlers to build a home on the property, which was very difficult and costly. While the lure of free land seemed like an easy opportunity for success, the realities of the conditions on the plains made success extremely challenging. There were numerous disputes between colonies over territorial claims and boundaries. Civil War veteran and physician, Daniel Freeman, was the first to file a claim under the newly passed Homestead Act of 1862. The Homestead Act of 1862 was one of the most significant and enduring events in the westward expansion of the United States. It was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862. It was notable for the opportunity it gave African Americans to own land. The growth of the nation supported by the Homestead Act created an environment where innovation could flourish. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. The Senate passed the Homestead Act by a vote of 33 to 7 on May 6, 1862. The Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of Special Session 1 of 2006, was signed into law on June 27, 2006. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. The law was signed into effect by President Abraham Lincoln as part of his effort to expand the Union into the American West. HOMESTEADERS. Freeman settled near Beatrice, Nebraska. Under the new law a U.S. Citizen could get 160 acres of unoccupied land west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains. 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; land could also be acquired after six months of residence at $1.25 an acre. English Collins Dictionary - English Definition & Thesaurus. The U.S. government passed the Homestead Act to encourage western migration. Britannica Kids Holiday Bundle! noun. From early colonial days, the desire for “free land” had generated successive waves of westward migrations. The Homestead Act became law in 1862 when it was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons Homestead Act Certificate of homestead in Nebraska given under the Homestead Act, 1862. Homesteaders, sometimes credited with settling the West, were people who took advantage of the Homestead Act of 1862. Homestead Act. In 1862 congress passed the homestead act offering 160 acres of free land to any citizen or intended citizen who was head of the household. Others remained on the land most of the time. Another amended act, the national Stock-Raising Homestead Act, was passed in 1916 and granted 640 acres (260 ha) for ranching purposes. The Homestead Act of 1862 President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act on May 20, 1862. What is the homestead exemption? 1 an act passed by the U.S. Congress in 1862 making available to settlers 160-acre tracts of public land for cultivation 2 (in Canada) a similar act passed by the Canadian Parliament in 1872 homestead law Another spike in westward migration came with the Homestead Act of 1862 and similar bills in the 1870s. The Homestead Act of 1862 was a landmark in the evolution of federal agriculture law. Homestead Act an act passed by the US Congress in 1862 making available to settlers 160-acre tracts of public land for cultivation. The Land Ordinance of 1787 established federal control over public land and implemented defined boundaries among the states. The Homestead Act, enacted during the Civil War in 1862, provided that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. 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