What was the primary purpose of the Homestead Act of 1862?

The primary purpose of the Homestead Act of 1862 was to encourage westward migration by providing land to settlers. The act offered 160 acres of public land to any adult citizen or intended citizen who paid a small filing fee and pledged to improve the land by building a dwelling and cultivating crops for a period of five years. This legislation aimed to stimulate settlement in the western territories, promoting economic development and boosting the population in those areas following the Civil War.

By opening up land for homesteading, the act played a crucial role in shaping the landscape of the United States, leading to increased agricultural production and the establishment of new communities. The initiative was part of a broader strategy to expand the nation, promote agriculture, and fulfill the idea of Manifest Destiny, which held that Americans were destined to expand their territory across the continent.