The north feared that cheap land would encourage their workers to move in search of a better life.

The objective in this statemet is to fill one blank

The North feared that cheap land would encourage their workers to move in search of a better life

The word that fills appropriately this blank is WEST

Explanation:

The U.S. has been seen as the land of opportunity, a place where immigrants can get a high quality of life.  However, both in the past and today, U.S. natives have shown their negative opinion about immigration, since it can be considered as a phenomenon that can lower wages or that the newcomers do not fit in the U.S. society. These fears have influenced the historical immigration law and are still a polemic issue.

“Homestead Act” of 1860

As this was a constitutional step by the government which was supposed to provide 160 acres of free land for anyone who wanted to settle and farm the land.

Explanation:

As they wanted to provide land so they can be used and farmed on family labor by offering cheap land in small parcels as that would benefit them well.As government had approved the bill to provide many acres of land to people for free which would encourage the people to start there own business and stuff.