This collection uses primary sources to explore the Homestead Acts. Digital Public Library of America Primary Source Sets are designed to help students develop their critical thinking skills and draw diverse material from libraries, archives, and museums across the United States. Each set includes an overview, ten to fifteen primary sources, links to related resources, and a teaching guide. These sets were created and reviewed by the teachers on the DPLA's Education Advisory Committee.

In this letter to Abraham Lincoln a Canadian requests information about the Homestead Bill.

The Westward Spirit
Homesteading: Dreams and Realities
Making a Living in Gold and Cattle
The Loss of American Indian Life and Culture
The Impact of Expansion on Chinese Immigrants and Hispanic Citizens

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Explain the evolution of American views about westward migration in the mid-nineteenth century
Analyze the ways in which the federal government facilitated Americans’ westward migration in the mid-nineteenth century