Final answer:
People who took advantage of the Homestead Act included White Americans, freed slaves, and immigrants, especially those coming from places like Northern Europe and Canada. It was open to all adult citizens or those who intended to become citizens, except for groups like Chinese immigrants who were excluded due to restrictive laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Homestead Act of 1862 was a significant piece of legislation that facilitated the settlement of the American west by allowing private individuals to claim federal land. The act enabled any adult citizen, or intended citizen, to claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. Claimants were required to improve the land by building a dwelling and cultivating the land.
White Americans, freed slaves, and immigrants took advantage of the Homestead Act. This included African American "exodusters" escaping racism in the South, former slaveholders from the South seeking new financial opportunities, and recent immigrants from places like Northern Europe and Canada. It was not solely limited to any single demographic group; rather, it was a policy that many different groups utilized in the pursuit of land and opportunity. Notably, the majority of Chinese immigrants were excluded from benefits such as the Homestead Act due to laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act, and many worked in menial jobs or on the railroads.