The Homestead Act Reading Comp CFU

In which year was the Homestead Act enacted?

• 1850

• 1862

• 1875

• 1900

How many acres of surveyed government land could be claimed under the Homestead Act?

• 50 acres

• 200 acres

• 100 acres

• 160 acres

Who was eligible to claim land under the Homestead Act?

• Any adult citizen or intended citizen who had never borne arms against the US government

• Only US citizens born in the United States

• Only Union soldiers

• Any adult citizen regardless of their history with the US government

One stipulation for getting the land was that you had to "improve the plot of land." According to the law, what did this involve?

• Constructing a fence around the property

• Building a dwelling and cultivating the land

• Paying a large fee to the government

• Planting trees on the land

How long did homesteaders need to reside on the land to gain ownership?

• 5 years

• 2 years

• 10 years

• 6 months

If you wanted to speed up the process, how could you do this?

• By serving in the military

• By planting crops

• By building a large house

• By paying the government $1.25 per acre

What was the purpose of the Homestead Act?

• To sell land to foreign investors

• To collect taxes from landowners

• To encourage Americans to live in the West

• To create national parks

Which one of these is NOT a stipulation you had to follow in order to get 160 acres of land?

• Improving the plot

• Building a dwelling

• Paying $1.25

• Living on the land for 5 years

How will the Homestead Act support Manifest Destiny?

• The Homestead Act limited land ownership to the East Coast.
• The Homestead Act encouraged people to stay in their home states.
• The Homestead Act was primarily focused on urban development and renewal.

• The Homestead Act supported Manifest Destiny by promoting westward expansion and settlement.