Questions: Which of the following events resulted in the federal government providing large grants of Western land to private companies? The Homestead Act The Pacific Railway Acts The Morrill Act The Treaty of Fort Laramie

The answer is: The Pacific Railway Acts.

Explanation for each option:

1. The Homestead Act: This act, passed in 1862, provided 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, provided they improved the land by building a dwelling and cultivating crops. It was aimed at encouraging the settlement of the Western United States by individual farmers, not private companies.

2. The Pacific Railway Acts: These acts, passed in 1862 and 1864, granted large amounts of land and loans to private railroad companies to encourage the construction of a transcontinental railroad. This was a significant federal initiative to promote infrastructure development and economic growth in the Western territories.

3. The Morrill Act: Passed in 1862, this act provided land grants to states to finance the establishment of colleges specializing in agriculture and the mechanic arts. While it involved the distribution of land, it was aimed at educational institutions rather than private companies.

4. The Treaty of Fort Laramie: This treaty, signed in 1851 and again in 1868, was an agreement between the United States and various Native American tribes. It aimed to establish peace and define territorial boundaries but did not involve the granting of land to private companies.

Therefore, the correct answer is the Pacific Railway Acts, as they specifically resulted in the federal government providing large grants of Western land to private companies for the construction of railroads.