What helped the homesteaders survive

There were several things that helped the homesteaders survive, but the major one was bringing lots of food and supplies with them so they wouldn't starve. It also helped to befriend the locals. 

It's most likely choice a, it makes the most sense in my opinion.

Yes you are cute answer theories to explain the colonization of the new world the last great habitable landmass to be occupied by humans focus on the bering land bridge, or beringia, which emerge by siberia and alaska the last ice age.