Homestead Act · US History

The Desert Land Act of 1877 allowed settlers to buy 640 acres cheaply if they:

  1. Promised to irrigate the land within three years
  2. Discovered and formally documented a new species of desert animal
  3. Turned the land into a cattle ranch
  4. Built a bridge over the Colorado River
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Correct answer: Promised to irrigate the land within three years

Recognizing that 160 acres was insufficient in arid regions, the government increased the acreage. However, the requirement to irrigate the land was often too expensive for individual farmers, leading to further corporate land grabs.

Difficulty: Medium Question 17 of 20

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