A significant change in land ownership that occurred in the U.S. following the Civil War was the redistribution of land and opportunities for formerly enslaved individuals. The Homestead Act of 1862 and various other legislative measures aimed to help newly freed African Americans acquire land and establish independent livelihoods. However, the Southern states often resisted these changes, leading to systems like sharecropping that limited economic mobility. The post-war period also saw large landowners consolidating their holdings, contributing to economic disparities. Despite the challenges, this era laid the groundwork for future movements toward land reforms and civil rights.