HOMESTEAD ACT OF 1862
Where in the world were all these pioneers going? Well, the United States Government had plenty of people in the Eastern part of the country. So, our government wanted to grow the country westward. In an effort to do so, the Government offered FREE land! A whopping 45% of Nebraska's acres were distributed through the Homestead Act. This is the most of any state! There were some requirements to getting this free land. If a person was 21 years old, had never fought against the U.S. and was a U.S. citizen (or in the process of becoming a citizen), he or she could file a 'claim'. This means that a person could select unoccupied land, go to the land office, and have his or her name noted on that plot of land. Then,the homesteader had to live on the land, build a home, make improvements (like digging a well and planting trees) and farm the land for at least 5 years. If the homesteader was successful, after 5 years, he or she could have the 160 acres for free! (Well, there was an $18 filing fee.) Just one acre is about the size of one football field! It wasn't easy though. Millions of pioneers headed out on the trail to claim their own 160 acres. Millions were successful, but there were also many who died or turned back. Could you have "made it" as a pioneer?
Where in the world were all these pioneers going? Well, the United States Government had plenty of people in the Eastern part of the country. So, our government wanted to grow the country westward. In an effort to do so, the Government offered FREE land! A whopping 45% of Nebraska's acres were distributed through the Homestead Act. This is the most of any state! There were some requirements to getting this free land. If a person was 21 years old, had never fought against the U.S. and was a U.S. citizen (or in the process of becoming a citizen), he or she could file a 'claim'. This means that a person could select unoccupied land, go to the land office, and have his or her name noted on that plot of land. Then,the homesteader had to live on the land, build a home, make improvements (like digging a well and planting trees) and farm the land for at least 5 years. If the homesteader was successful, after 5 years, he or she could have the 160 acres for free! (Well, there was an $18 filing fee.) Just one acre is about the size of one football field! It wasn't easy though. Millions of pioneers headed out on the trail to claim their own 160 acres. Millions were successful, but there were also many who died or turned back. Could you have "made it" as a pioneer?
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