Homestead Act (1862)
Citation: Act of May 20, 1862 (Homestead Act), Public Law 37-64 (12 STAT 392); 5/20/1862; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789 - 2011; General Records of the United States Government, Record Group 11; National Archives Building, Washington, DC.
引用：1862 年 5 月 20 日法案（宅基地法），公法 37-64 (12 STAT 392)； 1862 年 5 月 20 日；国会登记法案和决议，1789 年至 2011 年；美国政府总记录，记录组 11；国家档案馆，华盛顿特区。
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Passed on May 20, 1862, the Homestead Act accelerated the settlement of the western territory by granting adult heads of families 160 acres of surveyed public land for a minimal filing fee and five years of continuous residence on that land.
1862 年 5 月 20 日通过的《宅地法》加速了西部地区的定居，以最低的申请费授予成年户主 160 英亩已调查的公共土地，并在该土地上连续居住五年。
The Homestead Act, enacted during the Civil War in 1862, provided that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land.
1862 年内战期间颁布的《宅地法》规定，任何从未携带武器反对美国政府的成年公民或有意成为公民的人都可以拥有 160 英亩经调查的政府土地。
Claimants were required to live on and “improve” their plot by cultivating the land.
索赔人被要求维持生计并通过耕种土地来“改善”他们的土地。
After five years on the land, the original filer was entitled to the property, free and clear, except for a small registration fee.
在这片土地上居住五年后，原申报人有权获得该财产，免费且清晰，只需支付少量登记费。
Title could also be acquired after only a six-month residency and trivial improvements, provided the claimant paid the government $1.25 per acre.
只要申请人向政府支付每英亩 1.25 美元的费用，只需居住六个月并进行一些小改进即可获得所有权。
After the Civil War, Union soldiers could deduct the time they had served from the residency requirements.
内战结束后，联邦士兵可以从居住要求中扣除服役时间。
Although this act was included in the Republican party platform of 1860, support for the idea began decades earlier.
尽管该法案被纳入 1860 年的共和党纲领中，但对该想法的支持早在几十年前就开始了。
Even under the Articles of Confederation , before 1787, the distribution of government lands generated much interest and discussion.
即使根据《邦联条例》，在 1787 年之前，政府土地的分配也引起了很多关注和讨论。
The act, however, proved to be no panacea for poverty.
然而事实证明，该法案并不是解决贫困的灵丹妙药。
Comparatively few laborers and farmers could afford to build a farm or acquire the necessary tools, seed, and livestock.
相对较少的工人和农民有能力建造农场或获得必要的工具、种子和牲畜。
In the end, most of those who purchased land under the act came from areas quite close to their new homesteads (Iowans moved to Nebraska, Minnesotans to South Dakota, and so on).
最终，大多数根据该法案购买土地的人都来自距离他们的新家园非常近的地区（爱荷华州人搬到了内布拉斯加州，明尼苏达州人搬到了南达科他州，等等）。
Unfortunately, the act was framed so ambiguously that it seemed to invite fraud, and early modifications by Congress only compounded the problem.
不幸的是，该法案的框架非常模糊，似乎会招致欺诈，而国会的早期修改只会使问题更加复杂。
Most of the land went to speculators, cattle owners, miners, loggers, and railroads.
大部分土地都流向了投机者、牛主、矿工、伐木者和铁路公司。
Of some 500 million acres dispersed by the General Land Office between 1862 and 1904, only 80 million acres went to homesteaders.
1862 年至 1904 年间，土地总局分配的约 5 亿英亩土地中，只有 8,000 万英亩归自耕农所有。
Indeed, small farmers acquired more land under the Homestead Act in the 20th century than in the 19th.
事实上，20 世纪的小农根据《宅地法》获得的土地比 19 世纪更多。
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该文档可在 DocsTeach 上找到，这是一个使用国家档案馆文档进行教学的在线工具。
Find teaching activities that incorporate this document, or create your own online activity .
查找包含本文档的教学活动，或创建您自己的在线活动。
CHAP.
第章。
LXXV.
六二十五。
— An Act to secure Homesteads to actual Settlers on the Public Domain.
— 一项保护公共领域实际定居者宅基地的法案。
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That any person who is the head of a family, or who has arrived at the age of twenty-one years, and is a citizen of the United States, or who shall have filed his declaration of intention to become such, as required by the naturalization laws of the United States, and who has never borne arms against the United States Government or given aid and comfort to its enemies, shall, from and after the first January, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, be entitled to enter one quarter section or a less quantity of unappropriated public lands, upon which said person may have filed a preemption claim, or which may, at the time the application is made, be subject to preemption at one dollar and twenty-five cents, or less, per acre; or eighty acres or less of such unappropriated lands, at two dollars and fifty cents per acre, to be located in a body, in conformity to the legal subdivisions of the public lands, and after the same shall have been surveyed: Provided, That any person owning and residing on land may, under the provisions of this act, enter other land lying contiguous to his or her said land, which shall not, with the land so already owned and occupied, exceed in the aggregate one hundred and sixty acres.
美利坚合众国参议院和众议院在国会中制定的规定，任何一家之主，或年满二十一岁的美国公民，或根据美国入籍法的要求已提交成为美国公民的意图声明的人，以及从未携带武器反对美国政府或向敌人提供过援助和安慰的人，自一月一日起，应在一千八百年后成为美国公民。六十三、有权进入四分之一或更少数量的未占用公共土地，该人可能已对该土地提出优先购买权要求，或者在提出申请时可能会受到每英亩一美元二十五美分或更少的优先购买；或八十英亩或更少的此类未占用土地，每英亩二美元五十美分，按照公共土地的法定划分，划分为一个整体，并在对这些土地进行测量之后：但拥有和居住在土地上的任何人可以根据本法的规定，进入与其所述土地相邻的其他土地，该土地连同已拥有和占用的土地总计不得超过一百和六十英亩。
SEC.
美国证券交易委员会。
2.
2.
And be it further enacted, That the person applying for the benefit of this act shall, upon application to the register of the land office in which he or she is about to make such entry, make affidavit before the said register or receiver that he or she is the head of a family, or is twenty-one years or more of age, or shall have performed service in the army or navy of the United States, and that he has never borne arms against the Government of the United States or given aid and comfort to its enemies, and that such application is made for his or her exclusive use and benefit, and that said entry is made for the purpose of actual settlement and cultivation, and not either directly or indirectly for the use or benefit of any other person or persons whomsoever; and upon filing the said affidavit with the register or receiver, and on payment of ten dollars, he or she shall thereupon be permitted to enter the quantity of land specified: Provided, however, That no certificate shall be given or patent issued therefor until the expiration of five years from the date of such entry; and if, at the expiration of such time, or at any time within two years thereafter, the person making such entry; or, if he be dead, his widow; or in case of her death, his heirs or devisee; or in case of a widow making such entry, her heirs or devisee, in case of her death; shall.
并进一步规定，申请本法案利益的人应在向他或她即将入境的土地办公室登记处提出申请时，向所述登记处或接收人提交宣誓书，证明他或她是一家之主，或者年满二十一岁，或者曾在美国陆军或海军服役，并且他从未携带过反对美国政府的武器或向其敌人提供过援助和安慰，并且申请是为了他或她的专有使用和利益，并且所述进入是为了实际定居和耕种的目的，而不是直接或间接为了任何其他人或任何人的使用或利益；在向登记处或接管人提交上述宣誓书并支付十美元后，他或她应立即被允许进入指定的土地数量：但是，在进入之日起五年期满之前，不得颁发任何证书或颁发专利；如果在该期限届满时，或在其后两年内的任何时间，进行此类登记的人；或者，如果他死了，他的遗孀；如果她去世了，他的继承人或受保护人；如果是寡妇，则为她的继承人或受遗赠人（如果她去世了）；将。
prove by two credible witnesses that he, she, or they have resided upon or cultivated the same for the term of five years immediately succeeding the time of filing the affidavit aforesaid, and shall make affidavit that no part of said land has been alienated, and that he has borne rue allegiance to the Government of the United States; then, in such case, he, she, or they, if at that time a citizen of the United States, shall be entitled to a patent, as in other cases provided for by law: And provided, further, That in case of the death of both father and mother, leaving an Infant child, or children, under twenty-one years of age, the right and fee shall ensure to the benefit of said infant child or children; and the executor, administrator, or guardian may, at any time within two years after the death of the surviving parent, and in accordance with the laws of the State in which such children for the time being have their domicile, sell said land for the benefit of said infants, but for no other purpose; and the purchaser shall acquire the absolute title by the purchase, and be entitled to a patent from the United States, on payment of the office fees and sum of money herein specified.
由两名可靠的证人证明，他、她或他们在提交上述宣誓书之后的五年内已在该土地上居住或耕种，并应宣誓所述土地的任何部分均未被转让，并且他已对美国政府效忠；那么，在这种情况下，他、她或他们，如果当时是美国公民，应有权获得专利，与法律规定的其他情况一样：并且进一步规定，如果父母双亡，留下一名或多名二十一岁以下的婴儿，则该权利和费用应确保所述婴儿或儿童的利益；遗嘱执行人、管理人或监护人可以在尚存父母去世后两年内的任何时间，根据该子女当时居住地所在州的法律，为了该婴儿的利益而出售该土地，但不得用于其他目的；购买者应通过购买获得绝对所有权，并在支付此处指定的办公费和金额后有权获得美国专利。
SEC.
美国证券交易委员会。
3.
3.
And be it further enacted, That the register of the land office shall note all such applications on the tract books and plats of, his office, and keep a register of all such entries, and make return thereof to the General Land Office, together with the proof upon which they have been founded.
进一步规定，土地局登记处应在其办公室的小册子和图版上记录所有此类申请，并保存所有此类条目的登记册，并将其连同其所依据的证据一起返还给土地总局。
SEC.
美国证券交易委员会。
4.
4.
And be it further enacted, That no lands acquired under the provisions of this act shall in any event become liable to the satisfaction of any debt or debts contracted prior to the issuing of the patent therefor.
并进一步颁布，根据本法规定获得的任何土地在任何情况下均不得清偿在授予其专利之前签订的任何债务或债务。
SEC.
美国证券交易委员会。
5.
5.
And be it further enacted, That if, at any time after the filing of the affidavit, as required in the second section of this act, and before the expiration of the five years aforesaid, it shall be proven, after due notice to the settler, to the satisfaction of the register of the land office, that the person having filed such affidavit shall have actually changed his or her residence, or abandoned the said land for more than six months at any time, then and in that event the land so entered shall revert to the government.
进一步规定，如果按照本法第二节的要求，在提交宣誓书之后的任何时间，在上述五年届满之前，在向定居者发出适当通知后，应证明提交该宣誓书的人实际上已经改变了其住所，或在任何时间放弃了所述土地超过六个月，那么在这种情况下，如此进入的土地应归还给土地局登记处。政府。
SEC.
美国证券交易委员会。
6.
6.
And be it further enacted, That no individual shall be permitted to acquire title to more than one quarter section under the provisions of this act; and that the Commissioner of the General Land Office is hereby required to prepare and issue such rules and regulations, consistent with this act, as shall be necessary and proper to carry its provisions into effect; and that the registers and receivers of the several land offices shall be entitled to receive the same compensation for any lands entered under the provisions of this act that they are now entitled to receive when the same quantity of land is entered with money, one half to be paid by the person making the application at the time of so doing, and the other half on the issue of the certificate by the person to whom it may be issued; but this shall not be construed to enlarge the maximum of compensation now prescribed by law for any register or receiver: Provided, That nothing contained in this act shall be so construed as to impair or interfere in any manner whatever with existing preemption rights: And provided, further, That all persons who may have filed their applications for a preemption right prior to the passage of this act, shall be entitled to all privileges of this act: Provided, further, That no person who has served, or may hereafter serve, for a period of not less than fourteen days in the army or navy of the United States, either regular or volunteer, under the laws thereof, during the existence of an actual war, domestic or foreign, shall be deprived of the benefits of this act on account of not having attained the age of twenty-one years.
并进一步颁布，根据本法的规定，任何个人不得获得超过四分之一的所有权；特此要求土地总局局长根据本法制定和颁布必要且适当的规则和条例，以实施其规定；各土地局的登记官和接管人对于根据本法规定进入的任何土地，有权获得与他们现在在用金钱进入相同数量的土地时有权获得的相同补偿，其中一半由提出申请的人在提出申请时支付，另一半由颁发证书的人支付；但这不应被解释为扩大法律目前规定的对任何登记者或接管人的最高赔偿额：前提是，本法中的任何内容均不得解释为以任何方式损害或干扰现有的优先购买权：此外，还规定，所有在本法通过之前可能已提出优先购买权申请的人，均应有权享有本法的所有特权：此外，任何人已经服务过或今后可能服务于在发生实际的国内外战争期间，根据其法律，在美国陆军或海军服役不少于十四天的正规或志愿人员，应因未满二十一岁而被剥夺该法案的福利。
SEC.
美国证券交易委员会。
7.
7.
And be it further enacted, That the fifth section of the act entitled "An act in addition to an act more effectually to provide for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, and for other purposes," approved the third of March, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, shall extend to all oaths, affirmations, and affidavits, required or authorized by this act.
如果进一步颁布，1857 年 3 月 3 日批准的题为“更有效地规定对某些危害美国的某些罪行的惩罚以及其他目的的法案之外的法案”的第五节应适用于本法案要求或授权的所有宣誓、声明和宣誓书。
SEC.
美国证券交易委员会。
8.
8.
And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act shall be so construed as to prevent any person who has availed him or herself of the benefits of the first section of this act, from paying the minimum price, or the price to which the same may have graduated, for the quantity of land so entered at any time before the expiration of the five years, and obtaining a patent therefor from the government, as in other cases provided by law, on making proof of settlement and cultivation as provided by existing laws granting preemption rights.
并进一步规定，本法中的任何内容均不得解释为阻止任何人利用本法第一节的利益，在五年期满之前的任何时间为如此进入的土地数量支付最低价格或可能分级的价格，并在法律规定的其他情况下，根据授予优先购买权的现行法律规定的定居和耕种证明，从政府获得专利。