Background
The first Homestead Act had originally been proposed by Northern Republicans, but had been repeatedly blocked for passage in Congress by Southern Democrats who wanted western lands open for slave-owners. After the Southern states seceded in 1861 and most of their representatives resigned from Congress, the Republican Congress passed the long delayed bill. It was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862. Daniel Freeman became the first person to file a claim under the new act.
Between 1862 and 1934, the federal government granted 1.6 million homesteads and distributed 270,000,000 acres (420,000 sq mi) of federal land for private ownership. This was a total of 10% of all land in the United States. Homesteading was discontinued in 1976, except in Alaska, where it continued until 1986.
About 40 percent of the applicants who started the process were able to complete it and obtain title to their homesteaded land.
Read more about this topic: Homestead Act
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