The Homestead Act of 1862
No Strings Attached
- Subject:
- Humanities, Social Sciences
- Institution:
- National Archives and Records Administration
- Collection:
- National Archives and Records Administration
- Level:
- Primary, Secondary
- Abstract:
This lesson recounts efforts to improve homesteading laws and make land ownership possible for more settlers. The distribution of government lands had been an issue since the Revolutionary War. Preemption -- settling the land first and paying for it later -- became national policy; however, supporting legislation was stymied until the secession of Southern states. See one of the first applications for land under this law. Teaching activities are included.
- Course Type:
- Learning Module
- Language:
- English
- Material Type:
- Curriculum Standards, Lesson Plans
- Media Format:
- Graphics/Photos, Text/HTML
- Conditions of Use:
- Public Domain