On May 20th, 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. The Homestead Act was his way to encourage westward expansion and to provide multiple opportunities for citizens to acquire land and build a better future. With the signing, he believed that granting 160 acres of free land to settlers would improve the land and not only enhance agricultural spread but also promote economic growth. The Homestead Act would soon be known as one of the biggest and longest-lasting pieces of legislation in the 19th century. Although Abraham Lincoln was not alive for the majority of the Homestead Act, it started to attract settlers in 1863 and thrived till 1976. With the signing in that period, around 10 percent of U.S. lands were covered by the homestead promise. Over 1.6 million individual claims are under the Homestead Act. The act was a significant step towards Abraham's intentions. There were challenges and limitations, but the Homestead Act shaped the nation's development in today's time. With the expansion of the Homestead Act, economic advantages were put in place when other acts were brought into
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