Homestead Act is Passed

On May 20, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act into law. Taking effect January 1, 1863, it granted 160 acres of unappropriated public land to any citizen or intended citizen who was head of a household or at least 21 years old, upon payment of a small filing fee and five years of continuous residence. Eligible claimants included freed slaves, immigrants, and single women. The act ultimately distributed over 270 million acres across 30 states.