Welfare for the Settler: The Homestead Act of 1862

Background

The Homestead Act of 1862 constituted the largest ever distribution of government assets to citizens and prospective citizens in United States History. Through the Act, homesteaders claimed up to 160 acres of land, and after dwelling on the land for five years, received the deed, free of charge. The Homestead Act has been classified as many things; primarily it is analyzed as a land law and a piece of immigration legislation. It has largely not been categorized as a piece of social welfare policy, and where it has, has not been explored in depth. This study interrogates the Homestead Act as a social welfare policy and discusses the implications of such a categorization.

Methods

Primary sources for this historical study include Congressional Debates, historic newspapers, and oral histories from Indigenous People, Black people, European immigrants, and other White settlers. Congressional debates are examined to look at how the Homestead Act and other land (re)distribution policies are conceptualized and operationalized. Newspapers help determine who the Act was targeted towards (de jure and de facto), and oral histories bring in voices of groups who were marginalized.

Results

Welfare then, like now, was stigmatized and included notions of (un)deservedness. Therefore, while supporters of the Act did not view it as welfare because it was largely intended to help young, White men, it was indeed a piece of social welfare policy, not only using current conceptualizations, but also using conceptualizations of the time.

At the time of its passage, elected officials and other advocates considered the Homestead Act as a way to improve the well-being and fortune of current and potential U.S. citizens. Both in function and form, the Homestead Act disproportionately benefited Northern Europeans, those of Northern European descent, railroad companies, and wealthy White capitalists. Left out of the benefits, or actually damaged by the Act were African Americans, Native Americans, and non-White immigrants.

Conclusion

On the surface, the Homestead Act of 1862 was a progressive piece of public land legislation that shifted the landscape of the United States of America. It led to westward expansion, allowed many to become landowners, and paved a pathway to citizenship for immigrants. However, there was concurrently a dark side to its lauded accomplishments. It produced land speculation, monopolization of land, and exploitation of millions of acres to further capitalist’s ambition. Perhaps the most egregious legacy of the Homestead Act was how it reappropriated stolen Indigenous land for settlers.

Viewing the Homestead Act of 1862 as a piece of social welfare policy can shed light on how some were able to build generational wealth, while others were not afforded the same opportunity. This historical research has clear implications today regarding the stigmatization of welfare, where welfare is often viewed as a handout for those unwilling to be self-sufficient. By showing how some not typically viewed as welfare recipients relied on welfare to gain a leg up can help decrease the stigmatization of welfare and build upon research which broadens the discussion of who relies upon welfare.