The Preemption Act of 1830:
A) gradually raised the price of unsold public lands
B) allowed squatters to stake out claims ahead of the land surveys
C) limited the amount of cotton exported per year
D) set guidelines for the construction of new roads
E) gave veterans lands taken away from Indians

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Preemption Act of 1830 allowed squatters to stake out claims ahead of the land surveys, thus granting them the right to purchase the land at a reduced cost before it was available to the general public. This was significant because it gave many people the opportunity to become landowners, particularly in the western United States.