Ace the Praxis Social Studies 5081 in 2025 – Unlock Your Teaching Superpowers!

The Homestead Act of 1862 is the correct answer because it specifically aimed to encourage westward expansion by providing 160 acres of public land to settlers at little cost, provided they meet certain conditions, such as residing on and improving the land for at least five years. This legislation was a significant factor in the settlement of the Great Plains, as it allowed many individuals and families—especially immigrants and those seeking new opportunities—to claim land and establish farms in this region.

By contrast, the Morrill Act focused on land grants to establish agricultural and mechanical colleges, while the Dawes Act aimed to assimilate Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land, thereby undermining tribal lands. The Pacific Railway Act facilitated the construction of transcontinental railroads, which contributed to westward expansion indirectly but did not provide land directly to homesteaders. The specific focus of the Homestead Act on land acquisition for settlers makes it the key legislation associated with the settlement of the Great Plains.