President Abraham Lincoln signed one of the most important pieces of legislation in the history of the United States into law in May of 1862 . The Homestead Act opened the western United States for settlement and allowed any American, including immigrants, single women, and former slaves, to lay claim o western lands for a small filing fee of $18. To encourage more western migration, the Act allowed claimants to fife for up to 160 free acres of lateral land. By the time the Chill War ended, 15,000 homestead claims had been fled Any allowed citizen or person intending b become a citizen could quality tor the 160 acres provided they met three criteria. First, they had b be the head of their family or 21 years old. Second, they had to be willing to pay a registration fee, and third, they were capable of continuously living on and improving the land for five years. After five years, the applicant could own the land outright. A special condition was made for former Union soldiers of the Civil War.