A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History : The Homestead Act PBS, The West Handwritten Homestead Act Application National Archives and Records Administration This PBS site contains the text of the Homestead Act of 1862 which provided access to settlements on Western public lands. This image provides an example of a typical Homestead Act application. It is handwritten and somewhat difficult to read, but legitimizes for students the text of the act. Have students read the act and answer the following questions alone or in pairs. Who does the act exclude? Why were they excluded? What are the terms/conditions of the agreement? Why is the date of the Homestead Act significant? Have students list the events that have occurred so far in American History and those which had yet to take place. Show the image of the application for land through the act and then give students a transcription of the application. Ask students what people would apply for land through the Homestead Act. Have students write a letter to a relative explaining why they would move west? Conduct a lecture on how the Homestead Act allowed for the future incorporation of territories into states. Include the process of how a territory becomes a state as dictated by the constitution. Why would the act lead to the increasing population from westward expansion? What other government actions aided in people migrating west?

The Homestead Act
PBS: The West

Handwritten Homestead Act Application
National Archives and Records Administration

Description: This PBS site contains the text of the Homestead Act of 1862 which provided access to settlements on Western public lands.

Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestions

Have students read the act and answer the following questions alone or in pairs. Who does the act exclude? Why were they excluded? What are the terms/conditions of the agreement?
Why is the date of the Homestead Act significant? Have students list the events that have occurred so far in American History and those which had yet to take place.

Suggestions for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson

Show the image of the application for land through the act and then give students a transcription of the application. Ask students what people would apply for land through the Homestead Act. Have students write a letter to a relative explaining why they would move west?
Conduct a lecture on how the Homestead Act allowed for the future incorporation of territories into states. Include the process of how a territory becomes a state as dictated by the constitution. Why would the act lead to the increasing population from westward expansion? What other government actions aided in people migrating west?