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The Free-Soil Party was the first political party formed to support homesteading and West settlement. Although it was short-lived, it served as an important precedent for the Homestead Act.
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After being introduced to Congress, an early homesteading legislation was voted down in the House of Representatives.
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President James Buchanan vetoed a homestead bill that was a passed by both Houses.
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Galusha A. Grow, the writer of the Homestead Act, gave a speech to the House of Representatives introducing his ideas of homestead legislation.
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Daniel Freeman is widely recognized as the first homesteader.
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From January 1st midnight, pioneers had the opportunity to claim homesteads.
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In July of 1916, an amendment was made to the Homestead Act for Alaska, decreasing the maximum amount of land homesteaders could claim.
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In October of 1976, all homestead laws were repealed in the United States except for in Alaska.
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October 21 of 1986 was the last day to claim homesteads in Alaska, thus ending homesteading in the US.
