According to this document how did the homestead act encourage the settlement of the war?

The Homestead Act signed in 1862 opened the settlement in the western US, encouraging Americans including freed slaves, provided they never took up arms against the US government, could claim up to 160 acres of federal land under the basis that land had to be cultivated or use to build a house.

a. by accepting the election of president abraham lincoln in 1860 and convincing other southern states to do the same