Anthony Johnson acquired 250 acres of land through a combination of strategies, including earning it as a reward for his service as an indentured servant, purchasing it, and inheriting it. He was one of the first African Americans to achieve land ownership in the American colonies during the 17th century.
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Following the Civil War, General William T. Sherman issued Special Field Orders No. 15, which allocated 40 acres of land and the use of a mule to newly freed slaves in the Southern states. However, this policy was later revoked by President Andrew Johnson, and the promised land was reclaimed by the government.
The Homestead Act of 1862 offered homesteaders 160 acres of land to claim and develop.
Homestead Act of 1862 gave 160 acres of land to families settling parts of the West.
The primary beneficiaries of the Timber and Stone Act of 1878 were individuals and companies seeking to acquire public land for timber and stone resources. This act allowed for the purchase of land at a reduced rate for the purpose of developing timber and stone resources.
After General Sherman issued Special Field Order No. 15, which promised land to freed slaves, around 40,000 acres of land in Georgia and South Carolina were set aside for this purpose. This initiative provided some freed slaves with a measure of economic independence, but the policy was later overturned by President Andrew Johnson.