The purpose of the Homestead Act during the 19th century in the U.S. was to promote westward expansion and settle the frontier. Enacted in 1862, the Act allowed applicants to claim 160 acres of public land, provided they improved and farmed it for five years. This legislation incentivized many people, including immigrants and freed slaves, to move westward and cultivate the land, significantly contributing to the population and economic development of the western states. However, the act also led to the displacement of Native American tribes and conflicts over land use.