How did the Homestead Act affect Washington's economic and population growth?

Home stead act had both negative and positive impacts in the economic and population growth.

Explanation

The government offered free lands to many american households that they were happy that they became the owner of the lands. There were many negative and positive impacts. Positive impacts were that people started to use the land for agricultural purposes. It paved way for them to learn new techniques in the field of growing crops and new resources such as gold, silver, coal and oils were found which created mining employment. industrialization arose and the invention of railroads enabled the rise of towns and cities. economy slowly developed.

Negative impacts were manifest destiny allowed people to move to unknown and far off lands. some lands which were given as grants from the government were not fertile and the geographic climate was too dry which was not feasible for growing crops. The climate was so harsh that many died. Many had to abandon their lands and came to the same place in the east.