The Homestead Act

A True Book

by Elaine Landau

Describes the purpose of the Homestead Act, who qualified for it, and how it benefited America.

47 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2006

Reviews

[Lexy Nuesch]

Landau’s book explained almost anything and everything that you would need to know about the Homestead Act. This was our best source that we used on our project. We learned that widows were considered heads of the homestead. President Abraham Lincoln sighed the act opening a door for poor people who might never have been able to be landowners. The Homestead Act drew a large number of immigrants. Under the Act, African Americans could become landowners as well. Homesteaders worked hard to have enough food day to day. By 1900, homesteaders had claimed 80 million acres of land. On a homestead, there were many roles for each member of the family. Having enough water for their families was very important to homesteaders too. Settlers left behind many relatives and friends to live in an vast empty place. Eager homesteaders continued to arrive throughout the years. To own your homestead you had to “prove it up.” The lack of wood on the prairie also meant a lack of fuel. Homesteaders faced a big challenge of living off of the land. While everyone headed for the frontier with high hopes, not all homesteaders succeeded.