Way back machine time...When the west was ‘opened’ grants of land was given to whomever claimed the acreage etc...you had to live on it and work it continually for I think it was 5 years to actually legally own it...if you left you forfeited the land...You couldnt sell it for those 5 years...
Yep. Also, not buying land to distribute. Not putting welfare recipients into established rural areas to elect Democrat there either. Being actual pioneers would help former city dwellers no end to understand they don’t need government to be their nanny.
You also had to “Prove it up”
You had to make substantial improvements continuously...