What was the intent of the Homestead Act of 1862?

The Homestead Act of 1862 aimed to encourage westward expansion by providing land to settlers, making the correct answer a clear choice. Under this act, the U.S. government offered 160 acres of public land to any adult citizen or intended citizen who would pay a small filing fee and agree to build a dwelling on the land and cultivate it for at least five years. This legislation was a significant driver of migration to the West, especially during a time when land was available but largely untouched.

The intent behind the act was not only to populate the West but also to stimulate economic development and support the growth of new communities. This policy reflected the broader national ethos of Manifest Destiny, the belief that the expansion of the United States across the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

In contrast, efforts related to military settlement, land regulation in the East, or the establishment of national parks were not the primary objectives of the Homestead Act, which focused specifically on providing land to individual settlers as a means of promoting settlement and development in the western territories.