15+ Advertisement Westward Expansion Homestead Act Background. The first homestead act was passed on may 20, 1862 for the purposes of accelerating the settlement of the western territories. Anyone who was over 21 years old could own land.
The homestead act passed congress in 1862, providing land for thousands of americans, has been called the most important act for the welfare of in 1854 the first free homestead bill was introduced in congress by congressman galusha a.
The homestead act in 1862, the u.s. The homestead act encouraged western migration by providing settlers with 160 acres of land in exchange for a nominal filing fee. Crops were threatened or destroyed by wind, winter, or insects. The homestead act was attractive to many people from within or outside of the country.
