A Level History - America - Practice Exam

The purpose of the Desert Land Act, passed in 1877, was primarily to encourage irrigation on arid land. The act aimed to promote agricultural development in the arid regions of the western United States by allowing individuals to purchase desert land at a relatively low price, provided they would irrigate the land to make it arable. This was crucial during a time when many sought ways to expand agriculture into areas that were otherwise considered inhospitable due to their lack of water.

The emphasis on irrigation reflects the agricultural challenges faced by settlers in the West, as most land was dry and unsuitable for traditional farming methods without the introduction of irrigation techniques. By incentivizing irrigation, the government hoped to transform these arid areas into productive farmland, thus supporting westward expansion and settlement.

Other options do not accurately reflect the primary goals of the Desert Land Act. Promoting the cultivation of forest land is unrelated to the act's focus on desert regions. Military protection for settlers was addressed through different legislation and policies, while restricting land ownership to large corporations contradicts the act's intent to empower individual settlers to acquire and cultivate land.