4. The Homestead Act (1862) encouraged westward expansion by: A) Providing free transportation to the West. B) Offering 160 acres of land to settlers who improved it over five years. C) Funding the construction of the transcontinental railroad. D) Guaranteeing protection from Native American resistance.

The correct answer is:<br /><br />B) Offering 160 acres of land to settlers who improved it over five years.<br /><br />The Homestead Act of 1862 was a significant piece of legislation that encouraged westward expansion in the United States by providing 160 acres of public land to settlers. To gain ownership of the land, settlers were required to improve it by building a dwelling and cultivating the land for at least five years. This act aimed to promote the settlement and development of the western territories.