The Economic Times

In 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed a law that gave Americans a chance to claim 160 acres of free land. What happened next transformed the American West forever

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln enacted the Homestead Act, granting land to settlers eager to populate the West. This initiative allowed qualified individuals to claim 160 acres after five years of cultivation, significantly altering America's landscape. However, it also resulted in the displacement of Indigenous populations. The act prevailed for over a hundred years, leaving a lasting impact on the country's growth and development.