History: Homestead Act factored into early LL settlement Liberty
Lake Historical Society Supporters of the Homestead Act held the
belief that the availability of free or cheap land, under the
right terms, would ease the burden of the lack of land in states
along the eastern U.S. It would promote the settlement of the
west and help form new states. This, in turn, would generate
federal income to help run the Republic, while providing
opportunity to any citizen willing to take up farming. From 1830
to 1860, several homestead proposals were brought before
Congress. These bills lacked the votes to pass largely because
the southern states saw the west as a place to expand their
plantations operated with slave labor. With the secession of the
southern states in 1861, the Homestead Act easily passed, and
Abraham Lincoln signed it into law in May 1862. The passage of
this law was met with great optimism, especially for those who
had the courage and willingness to do hard work. A few
significant events along with the