What did the u. s. government do in the 1860s to encourage settlers to develop the great plains?

The Homestead act of 1862 was passed, giving away land on the condition that settlers would develop them.

Explanation:

the roman republic began to expand when rome fought the punic wars and defeated carthage. the punic wars refer to the series of 3 wars fought among rome and carthage, before it ended in carthage's defeat.

the first phase of the government’s plan for settlement was building the transcontinental railroad. the railroad provided a way to bring settlers and manufactured goods west and ship their agricultural and mining produce east. the transcontinental railroad was an essential artery for rapid development of the frontier.

the second phase of the government’s plan was a liberal land distribution policy that made it possible for many people to homestead. with these two key elements—transportation and cheap land—the government rapidly achieved its goal of persuading people to move west, settle on farms, and push back the frontier.