Which act encouraged settlement of the West in the mid-19th century?

The Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged settlement of the West by providing 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, provided they improved the land by building a dwelling and cultivating crops. This legislation aimed to promote westward expansion and agriculture, attracting thousands of families seeking new opportunities. It played a significant role in populating the western territories and shaping the American landscape during the mid-19th century.