American citizens and immigrants who had applied to become citizens could acquire land directly from the government through the

American citizens and immigrants who had applied to become citizens could acquire land directly from the government through the "Homestead Act." It was in the best interest of both the people and the government to occupy this land. 

The Homestead Acts constituted numerousl laws in the United States by which an applicant could acquire ownership of government land or the public domain, typically called a "homestead.”