The Homestead Act of 1862 turns 150

Families filing homestead claims were required to prove 5 years of residence and make improvements to the land.

  1. “Turning over first sod on homestead.” Sun River Mont. By Lubkin, November 5, 1908
  2. “Hancock homestead. Settler from Benson, Minn.” Little girl feeding chickens against background of house, buckboard wagon, and ridge of plateau, Sun River, Mont. By Lubkin, June 23, 1910
  3. Residence of G. L. Rule Feb. 18, 1898. Have lived here since Sept. 1893.” Family stands in foreground; sod building and cabin in background, Arizona Territory

See the rest of our series commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Homestead Act »

Homestead certificate for Daniel Freeman - 150th Anniversary of the Homestead Act

Daniel Freeman was the first American to file a homestead claim for land under the Homestead Act of 1862. The act required a series of steps, such as improving a plot of land and living on it for five years, before the homesteader could gain ownership of the 160 acres he claimed. Daniel Freeman initiated his claim on January 1, 1863 and received his ownership certificate January 20, 1868.
(See our “celebrity” Homestead Proofs from Almonzo Wilder and Virgil Earp for other examples.)

See the rest of our series commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Homestead Act »

via DocsTeach (Use the DocsTeach app?  You can find Homestead Act activities under the “Rise of the Industrial US” topic.)

The Homestead Act of 1862 turns 150

Prospective Homesteaders try to stake their claims:

  1. “First train [and wagons] leaving the line north of Orlando For Perry [OkIa. Terr.], Sept. 16, 1893.”
  2. Anadarko Townsite, Okla. Terr., August 8, 1901. Tent city in the cornfield
  3. “Holding Down A Lot In Guthrie.” By C. P. Rich, ca. 1889
  4. “Looking For A Town Lot.” Guthrie, Ind. Terr. [Oklahoma], ca. 1889
The Homestead Act, which turns 150 today, got its start as House Resolution 125. More background from our colleagues at the Center for Legislative Archives:  congressarchives: After almost a decade of debate in Congress, the Homestead Act was signed into law on May 20, 1862. The debate had started during the 1850s.  As westward expansion grew increasingly popular, more and more people argued that the government should give free land titles to settlers. The House of Representatives passed several homestead bills during the 1850s, but each failed when it was opposed by Senators from the South. In 1862, with the country fighting a civil war (and no southern opposition remaining in Congress), the legislation’s proponents finally achieved success. The House passed the Homestead Act on February 28 by the large margin of 107 to 16. The Senate also passed the act easily on May 6 by a vote of 33 to 7. After a few minor changes in conference committee—to which both houses agreed without controversy—Congress sent the final legislation to President Abraham Lincoln, who signed the act into law on May 20.The Homestead Act encouraged western migration by providing settlers with 160 acres of land in exchange for a nominal filing fee. Its provisions included two requirements: settlers had to reside on the land continuously for five-years before receiving the title to it, and settlers had to be, or in the process of becoming, U.S. citizens. Through 1986, when the last claim was made in Alaska, the Homestead Act distributed 270 million acres of land in the United States making it, arguably, one of the most far-reaching pieces of legislation in American history. HR 125, “An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain, 3/25/1862, SEN37A-C1, Records of the U.S. Senate
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The Homestead Act, which turns 150 today, got its start as House Resolution 125. More background from our colleagues at the Center for Legislative Archives: 

congressarchives:

After almost a decade of debate in Congress, the Homestead Act was signed into law on May 20, 1862. The debate had started during the 1850s.  As westward expansion grew increasingly popular, more and more people argued that the government should give free land titles to settlers. The House of Representatives passed several homestead bills during the 1850s, but each failed when it was opposed by Senators from the South. In 1862, with the country fighting a civil war (and no southern opposition remaining in Congress), the legislation’s proponents finally achieved success. The House passed the Homestead Act on February 28 by the large margin of 107 to 16. The Senate also passed the act easily on May 6 by a vote of 33 to 7. After a few minor changes in conference committee—to which both houses agreed without controversy—Congress sent the final legislation to President Abraham Lincoln, who signed the act into law on May 20.

The Homestead Act encouraged western migration by providing settlers with 160 acres of land in exchange for a nominal filing fee. Its provisions included two requirements: settlers had to reside on the land continuously for five-years before receiving the title to it, and settlers had to be, or in the process of becoming, U.S. citizens. Through 1986, when the last claim was made in Alaska, the Homestead Act distributed 270 million acres of land in the United States making it, arguably, one of the most far-reaching pieces of legislation in American history.

HR 125, “An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain, 3/25/1862, SEN37A-C1, Records of the U.S. Senate

Drawing for Kiowa, Comanche, Apache and Wichita Indian Lands: Oklahoma, 1901.  The tops of the freighter cars furnished seats for some 30,000 people who witnessed this drawing The Homestead Act of 1862, which provided the basis for land giveaways such as these, turns 150 years old on May 20.
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Drawing for Kiowa, Comanche, Apache and Wichita Indian Lands: Oklahoma, 1901.  The tops of the freighter cars furnished seats for some 30,000 people who witnessed this drawing

The Homestead Act of 1862, which provided the basis for land giveaways such as these, turns 150 years old on May 20.

“In Line At The Land Office, Perry, Sept. 23, 1893. 9 o’clock A.M. waiting to file.” From the Bureau of Land Management series: Opening of the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma Territory, 1893 The Homestead Act of 1862, which provided the basis for land claims such as these, turns 150 years old on May 20.
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“In Line At The Land Office, Perry, Sept. 23, 1893. 9 o’clock A.M. waiting to file.”

From the Bureau of Land Management series: Opening of the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma Territory, 1893

The Homestead Act of 1862, which provided the basis for land claims such as these, turns 150 years old on May 20.

“Indian Territory That Garden of the World, Open for Homestead and Pre-Emption” Sunday, May 20 marks the 150th Anniversary of the Homestead Act, passed on May 20, 1862.  It greatly accelerated settlement of the western United States, providing 160 acres of free land to qualified citizens, but this often came at the expense of displaced Native Americans. via DocsTeach  (Use the DocsTeach app?  You can find Homestead Act activities under the “Rise of the Industrial US” topic.)
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“Indian Territory That Garden of the World, Open for Homestead and Pre-Emption”

Sunday, May 20 marks the 150th Anniversary of the Homestead Act, passed on May 20, 1862.  It greatly accelerated settlement of the western United States, providing 160 acres of free land to qualified citizens, but this often came at the expense of displaced Native Americans.

via DocsTeach  (Use the DocsTeach app?  You can find Homestead Act activities under the “Rise of the Industrial US” topic.)

Oklahoma or Bust by John Stewart Curry This weekend marks the 150th Anniversary of the Homestead Act, providing the basis for the Oklahoma Land Rush.  It’s also Bike to Work Day and National Bike Month, so it’s hard to resist the penny-farthing bicycle shown here. Black & white photo reproduction.  The original color painting appears to be on display at the Department of the Interior’s Stuart Lee Udall building (click photo #20!).
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Oklahoma or Bust by John Stewart Curry

This weekend marks the 150th Anniversary of the Homestead Act, providing the basis for the Oklahoma Land Rush.  It’s also Bike to Work Day and National Bike Month, so it’s hard to resist the penny-farthing bicycle shown here.

Black & white photo reproduction.  The original color painting appears to be on display at the Department of the Interior’s Stuart Lee Udall building (click photo #20!).