In the late nineteenth century?

Question: In the late nineteenth century!?

How was the federal government instrumental in settling the west!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Homestead Act of 1862 was passed by Congress at the height of the Civil War!. By the mid-late 1800's the U!.S!. had accomplished its "Manifest Destiny," (with only a few exceptions like Alaska, Hawaii), but there were so few settlers in all of that extra land out west!. So Congress passed the Homestead Act of 1862 which made the Federal government responsible for GIVING AWAY land instead of acquiring it!. Rules of Homestead Act: Anyone 21 or older could file a patent for 160 acres of land, and if that person built a house on that land, dug a well, plowed farmed and maintained the property for 5 years, he would become the rightful owner!. There was also the Timber Culture Act of 1873 that would give settlers another 160 acres of land for planting trees!. With all that free land up for grabs (thanks to the Federal government), people raced to settle the West!.Www@QuestionHome@Com