Homestead Act

What was the overall purpose of the Homestead Act?

• Encourage people to migrate westward

• To spread people out more

• To keep people in the same place

• To make everyone leave

Who signed the Homestead Act?

• George Washington

• Abraham Lincoln

• Teddy Roosevelt

• Barack Obama

The Homestead Act took effect on January 1st of what year?

• 1861

• 1862

• 1863

• 1864

A person applying for a Homestead had to meet what requirements?

• At least 21 years-old or head of a family

• Be a US citizen or promise to become one

• Cultivate, or raise crops on part of the land

• All of the above

True or False: A person had to live on the homestead for 5 years in order to keep the land.

• True

• False

What was it called if people were able to meet the requirements and receive the deed to the land?

• Finishing up

• Proving up

• Homesteading

• There was no name for it

True or False: If people were unable to complete the requirements in the 5 year span, the land went back to the government?

• True

• False

What act offered land to people who agreed to plant trees on 10 acres of land?

• Homestead Act

• Pre-Emption Act

• Timber Culture Act

• Proving Up

Someone who lived on land that they did NOT own was called a what?

• Sitter

• Squatter

• Stealer

• Steeler

The Pre-Emption Act allowed squatters to do what?

• Purchase the land in which they were living on

• Not have to pay for their land

• Steal someone else's land

• Leave and never come back