Question

question 8 of 10

which group was now able to own land as a result of the homestead act?

a. people 18 years or older who knew how to farm
b. enslaved people freed by the emancipation proclamation
c. indigenous peoples who signed a trade agreement
d. immigrants who arrived in the united states after 1860

Explanation:

Analyze the provisions of the Homestead Act of 1862

The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed any citizen, or intended citizen who had never borne arms against the U.S. government, to claim 160 acres of surveyed government land.

Evaluate the eligibility requirements

To claim the land, the individual had to be the head of a household or at least 21 years old (later adjusted in practice, but generally adults), and improve the land by building a dwelling and cultivating crops (farming).

Match with the given options

• Option A describes "People 18 years or older who knew how to farm," which aligns with the core requirement of cultivating the land.
• Option B is incorrect because the Emancipation Proclamation did not grant land ownership rights directly through the Homestead Act.
• Option C is incorrect because the Act displaced Indigenous peoples rather than enabling them to own land through trade agreements.
• Option D is incorrect because arrival after 1860 was not the defining criteria for land ownership under the Act.

Answer:

• A. People 18 years or older who knew how to farm (Correct answer)
• B. Enslaved people freed by the Emancipation Proclamation
• C. Indigenous peoples who signed a trade agreement
• D. Immigrants who arrived in the United States after 1860