The purpose of the Homestead Act in the United States, enacted in 1862, was to encourage westward expansion by granting settlers land. Eligible individuals could claim up to 160 acres of public land, provided they lived on it for five years and improved it. This legislation aimed to promote agriculture and settlement in the West, significantly shaping the American frontier. However, it also led to conflicts with Native American tribes and raised issues regarding land ownership and agricultural viability in different regions.