What was major provisions of the homestead act?

The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed U.S. citizens and prospective citizens to claim 160 acres of public land for a small fee, provided they improved the land by building a dwelling and cultivating crops for at least five years. The act aimed to encourage westward expansion and settlement. Applicants were required to be at least 21 years old or the head of a household, and the land could not be owned by anyone else. This legislation significantly contributed to the development of the American frontier.