What governments rules allowed states to by land that had claimed to the west?

The primary government rule that allowed states to buy land in the West was the Homestead Act of 1862, which provided 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, provided they improved the land by building a dwelling and cultivating crops. Additionally, the Preemption Act of 1841 allowed squatters to purchase land they had settled on at a minimum price before it was offered to other buyers. These acts facilitated westward expansion by making land accessible to individuals and states.