The HomesteadAct of 1862 has been called one of the most important pieces of legislation in the history of the United States. Signed into law byAbraham Lincoln, thisAct turned over vast amounts of the public domain to private citizens. 270 million acres, or 10% of the area of the United States was claimed and settled under this act. TheAct provided that any head of a family who was a citizen, or declared his intention of becoming a citizen, could claim 160 acres of lanD、The claimants needed to pay a small registration fee and reside on the land for five years.Claimants were also required to build a home and grow crops on the lanD、If after five years, the original settler were still on the land, it would become his property, free and clear.