Homestead Act Quizzes
Think you’ve got your head wrapped around Homestead Act? Put your knowledge to
the test. Good luck — the Stickman is counting on you!
Q. Which phrase fits the blank in the following: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That any person who is __________, or who has arrived at the age of twenty-one years, and is a citizen of the United States, or who shall have filed his declaration of intention to become such, as required by the naturalization laws of the United States, and who has never borne arms against the United States Government or given aid and comfort to its enemies, shall, from and after the first January, eighteen hundred and. sixty-three, be entitled to enter one quarter section or a less quantity of unappropriated public lands[…]"? (Section 1)
the head of a family
the last of the Mohicans
the baby of a family
the leader of a family
Q. Which quote best describes equality in the Homestead Act?
"[…]that he or she is the head of a family, or is twenty-one years or more of age, or shall have performed service in the army or navy of the United States, and that he has never borne arms against the Government of the United States or given aid and comfort to its enemies, and that such application is made for his or her exclusive use and benefit[…]" (Section 2)
"[…]That no person who has served, or may hereafter serve, for a period of not less than fourteen days in the army or navy of the United States, either regular or volunteer, under the laws thereof, during the existence of an actual war, domestic or foreign, shall be deprived of the benefits of this act on account of not having attained the age of twenty-one years." (Section 6)
"[…]and that the registers and receivers of the several land offices shall be entitled to receive the same compensation for any lands entered under the provisions of this act that they are now entitled to receive when the same quantity of land is entered with money[…]" (Section 6)
"A person’s a person, no matter how small."
Q. Which phrase is missing from: "And be it further enacted, That if, at any time after the filing of the affidavit, as required in the second section of this act, and before the expiration of the five years aforesaid, it shall be proven, after due notice to the settler, to the satisfaction of the register of the land office, that the person having filed such affidavit shall have actually changed his or her residence, or abandoned the said land for more than six months at any time, then and in that event the land so entered___________."? (Section 6)
shall be divided by neighbors
shall be sold to the highest bidder
shall revert to the government
shall be used for pony rides
Q. Which of the following best fills in the blank? "Provided, That any person owning and residing on land may, under the provisions of this act, enter other land lying contiguous to his or her said land, which shall not, with the land so already owned and occupied, exceed in the aggregate ________________." (Section 1)
one hundred and sixty acres
one quarter section
two hundred and sixty acres
one hundred acre wood
Q. Which quote best describes perseverance in the Homestead Act?
"[…]And provided, further, That in case of the death of both father and mother, leaving an Infant child, or children, under twenty-one years of age, the right and fee shall ensure to the benefit of said infant child or children[…]" (Section 2)
"[…]and that such application is made for his or her exclusive use and benefit, and that said entry is made for the purpose of actual settlement and cultivation, and not either directly or indirectly for the use or benefit of any other person or persons whomsoever[…]" (Section 2)
"[…]Provided, however, That no certificate shall be given or patent issued therefor until the expiration of five years from the date of such entry[…]" (Section 2)
"I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can."