Homestead ActBy: Alex Lokken and TC FletcherThe original Homestead Act was a United States Federal law that gave away 160 acres of land outside of the original 13 colonies. The new law requires three steps: file for an application, improve land, and file for deed of title.Homestead ActBy: Alex Lokken and TC Fletcher

BackgroundThe Homestead Act began in order to populate frontier land that was very under populated and was signed into law by Abraham Lincoln in 1862. Two men greatly responsible for the act were George Henry Evans and Horace Greeley. Evans lobbied the idea of the Homestead Act and came up with the slogan Vote yourself a farm thus he was given the title Father of the Homestead Act.

Criticism The Homestead Act was abused. The idea of the Homestead Act was to grant land for agriculture. However, in the areas west of the Rocky Mountains, 640acres was generally too little land for a farm prior to major public investments in irrigation projects. In these areas homesteads were instead used to control resources such as water. Criticism

Decline of Homestead ActThe Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ended the homestead act. The government believed the ideal use of the land was for public use. The only exception to this policy was in Alaska where it remained until 1986.

Environmental HarmThe Homestead Act was blamed mainly for the dust bowl in the 1930s. This was due to the over pasteurization of the land. The dust bowl helped lead the country into the Great DepressionEnvironmental Harm

Eventually 1.6 million homesteads were granted and 270,000,000acres were privatized between 1862 and 1986, a total of 10% of all lands in the United States.

Bibliography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestead_Acthttp://users.rcn.com/deeds/homestead.htmhttp://gerald-massey.org.uk/holyoake/images/george_henry_lewes_2.jpghttp://www.historic-lamott-pa.com/media/client/photos/lincolnandthelaw/homesteadmap.jpg