6
mile square called
a township
 Township had 36
sections
 Each section was 1
square mile
 1 square is 640 acres
 Required
the
purchase of an entire
section
 $1.00 per acre
 Cost and labor
proved
overwhelming
 Lots
reduced to 320
acres
 Could pay in 4
installments
 Graduated scale
introduced
 .12-$1.25
Bonus to veterans
 Displaced
farmers
looked west
 Preemption was
accepted-individuals
right to settle land
first and pay
later(credit)
 Opposed by N-S,
why?
3 Step Process
 File
Application
 Live on and
Improve the land
 After 5 years, file
for deed

Qualifications for a Homestead
 Head of the family
 Citizen
 21 years of age
Had not fought against the Union
The
Government sold 10x
acreage than was
Homesteaded. Why did
people buy land when the
government was giving it
away?
 Land
was already being used by Native
Americans, ranchers and trappers.
 Had to live on it for 5 years
 Had to farm the land and build a home
 Some areas were infertile, no trees, little
water
 Poor location
 Access
to the railroads
 Closer to towns
 Usually better soil for farming
 Protected by the government
 Higher resale value
 Immediate ownership
 Republicans
 Deal
 They
wanted votes
not as sweet as it appeared
knew it would conflict with Native
Americans, ranchers and trappers.
 Cost
to fix it up
 Rent or resale value
 Safety
 Access to resources
 School system