Under the Homestead Act, how many acres of land were settlers typically allowed to claim if they farmed it for a set period?

• A. 80 acres
• B. 160 acres
• C. 320 acres
• D. 640 acres

Answer: (B)

The basic idea being tested is how the Homestead Act encouraged westward settlement by giving settlers a substantial tract of land to farm. The standard claim under the act was 160 acres. Settlers had to live on the land for five years, make improvements (like building a dwelling and cultivating crops), and pay a small filing fee. If they met these requirements, they could own the land free of questions about title. This 160-acre size was chosen because it was large enough to be workable for a family farm using era-appropriate tools and methods, but not so large that most settlers couldn’t manage it. Smaller plots, like 80 acres, were typically not sufficient for a self-sustaining farm, while much larger tracts (320 or 640 acres) were beyond what most homesteaders could realistically farm.