Homestead Act.

I missed it, but yesterday was the 150th Anniversary of the Homestead Act.  This is the Federal Homestead Act.

From the lede in a Wall Street Journal article we have this:

One hundred and fifty years ago, on May 20, 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed a bill that transformed the country. The Homestead Act offered 160 acres of free public land to settlers who would build a home on it and farm it for at least five years. Anyone 21 years old who was either a citizen or declared the intention to become one could stake a claim.

Two things pop out at me about this.

1. This act was passed and signed in the middle of a big war, when we were drafting men to go fight, and,
2. You didn't have to actually be a citizen as long as you had declared the intention of becoming a citizen.

Citizenship is important.  It is like getting married.  It is a commitment.  In my mind, one of the questions about illegal immigrants (undocumented immigrants) is if they are here for work or here to become US Citizens.  For me that is a clear distinction.  The former are to be closely regulated, both to protect them and to protect US citizens, who should have first call on work here in the United States.  The second are to be welcomed to our Republic, because they embrace our Republic and its ideals.♠  On the other hand, queue-jumping needs to be discouraged.

And, there is some upper limit to the number of immigrants we can absorb at any one moment.  We should be aware of that.

Congratulations to the Republicans of 1862.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  I do think that we should change our laws so that those who become US Citizens are asked to renounce their previous allegiences.  Today dual citizenship is allowed.  I don't think it makes sense.