Homestead Act

What was the primary reason people traveled the Oregon Trail in the 1840s to 1860s?

• To escape political persecution

• To find employment in the west

• To settle the plains

• In search of a better life or to find gold

Who signed the Homestead Act into law?

• George Washington

• Thomas Jefferson

• Theodore Roosevelt

• Abraham Lincoln

How much land could settlers claim under the Homestead Act?

• 160 acres

• 250 acres

• 100 acres

• 200 acres

Which states were encouraged for settlement under the Homestead Act?

• California, Texas, Florida, New York

• Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Alabama

• Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, North and South Dakota, Montana

• Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah

What was a requirement for claiming land under the Homestead Act?

• Paying a $100 fee

• Farming the land for at least five years

• Serving in the military

• Discovering gold on the land

When was the Homestead Act repealed?

• 1985

• 1976

• 1905

• 1892

Which group of people made significant claims under the Homestead Act?

• Only men

• European royalty

• Single women or widows

• Children under 18

What was a major challenge faced by settlers farming in the plains?

• Too many wild animals

• Overabundance of trees

• Lack of rainfall

• Too much rainfall

What did farmers use to break through the hard soil of the plains?

• Wooden plows

• Steel plows

• Water irrigation

• Dynamite

What was the fate of many farmers who took out loans for more land and equipment?

• They lost their farms due to debt

• They expanded their farms

• They sold their farms for profit

• They became wealthy