The Oregon Donation Land Act of 1850 was a national law that led to the transfer of federal rural land to the public. Citizens who met the requirements of being white settlers over the age of 18 could apply for legal titles to land ownership. They had to reside and work the land for four years. At the same time, legislation was passed that focused on removing Indian tribe ownership of the land through forceful negotiation.
As a result, the law began to massively attract settlers to the area, with over 30,000 people migrating to Oregon for five years. This act is vital in Idaho history since it covered the overall Oregon territory, including large parts of the modern-day Idaho state. The transfer of land into private ownership led to the formation of townships on the territory that contributed to the massive growth of the state’s economy. It was one of the significant pieces of federal legislation that contributed to the settling and development of Idaho territory.