The Homestead Act of 1862 aimed to encourage westward expansion by providing eligible individuals with the opportunity to claim and settle 160 acres of public land in the United States. To qualify, settlers needed to build a dwelling and cultivate the land for a minimum of five years. The act was significant in promoting agricultural development and fulfilling the American ideal of land ownership. It played a crucial role in populating the Great Plains and contributing to the expansion of the U.S. frontier, though it also led to conflicts with Indigenous peoples and environmental challenges.