The effect of the homestead act and related laws passed in 1870s

The Homestead Acts were several laws in the United States by which an applicant could acquire ownership of land, typically called a "homestead.” In all, more than 270 million acres of public land, or nearly 10% of the total area of the U.S., was given away free to 1.6 million homesteaders; most of the homesteads were west of the Mississippi River.

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