The Homestead Act

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. This law gave 160 acres of free land to anyone willing to live on it and farm it. Thousands of families moved west to start new lives. The law helped settle the American frontier.

Free Land for Settlers

Any adult citizen could claim 160 acres of government land for free. They had to build a home and farm the land for five years. If they did, the land became theirs to keep. Men, women, and even some formerly enslaved people took advantage of this offer.

Life on the Frontier

Homesteaders faced many challenges. The land was often flat and treeless. Some settlers built houses from blocks of sod because there was no wood. Droughts, harsh winters, and loneliness were common problems. Despite the difficulties, millions of acres were settled under the Homestead Act.

Fun Facts

• About 1.6 million homestead claims were filed under the act.
• The last homestead claim was made in Alaska in 1988.
• Some homesteaders lived in houses made of stacked blocks of grass and dirt called sod houses.

Did You Know?

About 10 percent of all the land in the United States was given away for free through the Homestead Act.