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[[Image:HomesteadAct.JPG|thumb|300px|The Homestead Act]]

[[Image:HomesteadAct.JPG|thumb|300px|The Homestead Act]]

The '''Homestead Act''', enacted during the [[American Civil War]] in 1862, provided that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of federal land. They had to "improve" the land by building a house and cultivating the fields. After 5 years occupation the farmer owned the land free, except for a small registration fee. Ownership was possible after only 6-months by paying $1.25 per acre. Union veterans could deduct their service time from the residency requirements.  

The '''Homestead Act''', enacted during the [[American Civil War]] in 1862, provided that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of federal land. They had to "improve" the land by building a house and cultivating the fields. After 5 years occupation the farmer owned the land free, except for a small registration fee. Ownership was possible after only 6-months by paying $1.25 per acre. Union veterans could deduct their service time from the residency requirements. Women were entitled to homestead on equal terms as men, and many women did homestead the land.<ref> See Walker D. Wyman and Helen B. Wyman, ''Frontier Woman: The Life of a Woman Homesteader on the Dakota Frontier'' (1990); Edith Eudora, ''Land Of The Burnt Thigh - A Lively Story Of Women Homesteaders On The South Dakota Frontier'' (1986) </ref>

The national land policies from the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 sought in principle to provide cheap land to family farmers. strongest support came from Northern Democrats, but Whigs wanted high land prices to discourage settlerment. Free grants were given in the colonial period, and in Oregon and Florida before 1862.  The federal government before 1862 sold its land, and the revenue helped keep taxes low.  The idea of "Free Soil" for "[[yeoman]]" farmers reflected [[Jeffersonian Democracy]] and was a major political issue in the 1850s. It was promoted by the [[Republican Party]] and opposed by Southerners. President [[James Buchanan]], a Democrat, vetoed a homestead law in 1860 but [[Abraham Lincoln]] eagerly signed the new law on May 20, 1862.  It opened up all federal land to homesteading.  

The national land policies from the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 sought in principle to provide cheap land to family farmers. strongest support came from Northern Democrats, but Whigs wanted high land prices to discourage settlement. Free grants were given in the colonial period, and in Oregon and Florida before 1862.  The federal government before 1862 sold its land, and the revenue helped keep taxes low.  The idea of "Free Soil" for "[[yeomen]]" farmers reflected [[Jeffersonian Democracy]] and was a major political issue in the 1850s. It was promoted by the [[Republican Party]] and opposed by Southerners. President [[James Buchanan]], a Democrat, vetoed a homestead law in 1860 but [[Abraham Lincoln]] eagerly signed the new law on May 20, 1862.  It opened up all federal land to homesteading.  

The law made available millions of acres to farming. It ewas taken up especially by people with previous experience on farms back East or in Europe. Landless men or laborers seldom could afford the acquire the necessary tools, seed, and livestock. Many of them became farm laborers and worked their way up the "agricultural ladder." In the end, most of those who purchased land under the act came from areas quite close to their new homesteads (Iowans moved to Nebraska, Minnesotans to South Dakota, and so on). A small amount of fraud was involved.  

The law made available millions of acres to farming. It was taken up especially by people with previous experience on farms back East or in Europe. Landless men or laborers seldom could afford the acquire the necessary tools, seed, and livestock. Many of them became farm laborers and worked their way up the "agricultural ladder." In the end, most of those who purchased land under the act came from areas quite close to their new homesteads (Iowans moved to Nebraska, Minnesotans to South Dakota, and so on). A small amount of fraud was involved.  

Much of the land went to first to speculators who resold it. Other land went to cattlemen, miners, and lumbermen who built up the western economy. Of some 500 million acres dispersed by the General Land Office between 1862 and 1904, only 80 million acres went to homesteaders. Indeed, small farmers acquired more land under the Homestead Act in the 20th century than in the 19th.

Much of the land went to first to speculators who resold it. Other land went to cattlemen, miners, and lumbermen who built up the western economy. Of some 500 million acres dispersed by the General Land Office between 1862 and 1904, only 80 million acres went to homesteaders. Indeed, small farmers acquired more land under the Homestead Act in the 20th century than in the 19th.

===SEC. 6.===

===SEC. 6.===

And be it further enacted, That no individual shall be permit- ted to acquire title to more than one quarter section under the provisions of this act; and that the Commissioner of the General Land Office is hereby required to prepare and issue such rules and regulations, consis- tent with this act, as shall be necessary and proper to carry its provisions into effect; and that the registers and receivers of the several land offices shall be entitled to receive the same compensation for any lands entered under the provisions of this act that they are now entitled to receive when the same quantity of land is entered with money, one half to be paid by the person making the application at the time of so doing, and the other half on the issue of the certificate by the person to whom it may be issued; but this shall not be construed to enlarge the maximum of compensation now prescribed by law for any register or receiver: Pro- vided, That nothing contained in this act shall be so construed as to im- pair or interfere in any manner whatever with existing preemption rights : And provided, further, That all persons who may have filed their applications for a preemption right prior to the passage of this act, shall be entitled to all privileges of this act: Provided, further, That no person who has served, or may hereafter serve, for a period of not less than fourteen days in the army or navy of the United States, either regular or volun- teer, under the laws thereof, during the existence of an actual war, do- mestic or foreign, shall be deprived of the benefits of this act on account of not having attained the age of twenty-one years.

And be it further enacted, That no individual shall be permitted to acquire title to more than one quarter section under the provisions of this act; and that the Commissioner of the General Land Office is hereby required to prepare and issue such rules and regulations, consistent with this act, as shall be necessary and proper to carry its provisions into effect; and that the registers and receivers of the several land offices shall be entitled to receive the same compensation for any lands entered under the provisions of this act that they are now entitled to receive when the same quantity of land is entered with money, one half to be paid by the person making the application at the time of so doing, and the other half on the issue of the certificate by the person to whom it may be issued; but this shall not be construed to enlarge the maximum of compensation now prescribed by law for any register or receiver: Provided, That nothing contained in this act shall be so construed as to impair or interfere in any manner whatever with existing preemption rights : And provided, further, That all persons who may have filed their applications for a preemption right prior to the passage of this act, shall be entitled to all privileges of this act: Provided, further, That no person who has served, or may hereafter serve, for a period of not less than fourteen days in the army or navy of the United States, either regular or volun- teer, under the laws thereof, during the existence of an actual war, do- mestic or foreign, shall be deprived of the benefits of this act on account of not having attained the age of twenty-one years.

===SEC. 7.===

===SEC. 7.===

And be it further enacted, That the fifth section of the act en- titled" An act in addition to an act more effectually to provide for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, and for other purposes," approved the third of March, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, shall extend to all oaths, affirmations, and affidavits, re- quired or authorized by this act.

And be it further enacted, That the fifth section of the act en- titled" An act in addition to an act more effectually to provide for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, and for other purposes," approved the third of March, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, shall extend to all oaths, affirmations, and affidavits, required or authorized by this act.

===SEC. 8.===

===SEC. 8.===

And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act shall be 80 construed as to prevent any person who has availed him or herself of the benefits of the fir8t section of this act, from paying the minimum price, or the price to which the same may have graduated, for the quantity of land so entered at any time before the expiration of the five years, and obtaining a patent therefor from the government, as in other cases provided by law, on making proof of settlement and cultivation as provided by exist- ing laws granting preemption rights.

And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act shall be 80 construed as to prevent any person who has availed him or herself of the benefits of the first section of this act, from paying the minimum price, or the price to which the same may have graduated, for the quantity of land so entered at any time before the expiration of the five years, and obtaining a patent therefor from the government, as in other cases provided by law, on making proof of settlement and cultivation as provided by exist- ing laws granting preemption rights.

APPROVED, May 20, 1862.  

APPROVED, May 20, 1862.  

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[[Category:United States History]][[Category:American Civil War]][[Category:American State Papers]]

[[Category:United States History]][[Category:American Civil War]][[Category:American State Papers]]

[[Category:Economic history]]

[[Category:Economic history]]