They Settled in Montana: The Act

1. What did the Free Homestead Act of 1862 give to people who "proved up" their claim?

A. 40 acres of land and a free house B. 160 acres of land if they lived on and improved it for several years C. 640 acres of grazing land with no fees D. Free train tickets but no land

Hint: A quarter‑section is 160 acres.

2. Why was 160 acres often enough for a farm in states east of Montana but not in much of Montana?

A. Eastern states had colder temperatures. B. Eastern states had fewer people. C. Eastern states usually had more rainfall, while Montana's climate was drier. D. Montana farmers were not allowed to grow crops.

Hint: Think about the word "arid," which describes eastern Montana's climate.

3. What does "proving up" a homestead mean?

A. Paying off all bank loans B. Building a school and a church C. Selling the land to a cattle company D. Living on the land for a set number of years and improving it

Hint: Homesteaders usually had to stay for several years, not just visit once.

4. How did dryland farming help some farmers in eastern Montana?

A. It used special methods and seeds to grow crops with limited rainfall. B. It allowed farmers to grow crops underwater. C. It meant farmers did not have to work during dry years. D. It forced everyone to move back east.

Hint: Dryland farming tried to make the best use of soil moisture in a dry place.

5. What did the Desert Land Act of 1877 offer to people who agreed to irrigate the land?

A. 80 acres of forest land and free tools B. Up to 640 acres if they built irrigation within three years and paid required fees C. Only small garden plots near towns D. Land that could never be used for ranching

Hint: This act gave four times as much land as the original Homestead Act.

6. How did some large cattle companies use the Desert Land Act to their advantage?

A. They refused to hire any workers. B. They only bought land east of the 100th meridian. C. They paid men to file claims, built small cabins and irrigation, then took over the land titles. D. They turned all the land back to the government.

Hint: Companies often used individual "front" claimants.

7. What is one way scientists and historians say the Desert Land Act affected the environment in Montana?

A. It encouraged overgrazing that damaged native grasses and plants. B. It completely stopped all ranching in the state. C. It created more forests and wetlands. D. It made Montana's climate much wetter.

Hint: Too many cattle on fragile grasslands can hurt the land.

8. What did the Enlarged Homestead Act of 1909 change for homesteaders in Montana?

A. It reduced claims from 160 to 80 acres. B. It took away the right to farm in dry areas. C. It forced homesteaders to move into cities. D. It increased land to 320 acres and required some of it to be farmed in crops.

Hint: This act doubled the land size for many new claims.

9. Why did so many "honyockers" (new homesteaders) move into Montana after 1909?

A. The government banned homesteading in all other states. B. More free or low‑cost land was available, and the weather was in a wetter cycle. C. Montana had discovered gold in every county. D. World War I had already ended.

Hint: Think about the Enlarged Homestead Act and the wet years that followed.

10. What happened to many Montana homesteaders by the late 1920s?

A. Most became wealthy and bought nearby states. B. Almost none of them left; everyone stayed on the land. C. Around 60,000 had left the state or were drawn away, often because of hard times and war. D. All farms were turned into national parks.

Hint: Many people left when drought and money problems returned after the boom years.

History & Prehistory

They Settled in Montana: The Act

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