Public domain (land)
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'''Public domain''' is a term used to describe lands that were not under private or state ownership during the 18th and 19th centuries in the [[United States]], as the country was expanding. These lands were obtained from the 13 original colonies, from [[Native American tribe]]s, or from purchase from other countries. The domain was controlled by the [[Federal government of the United States|federal government]] and sold to state and private interests through the auspices of the [[General Land Office]]. For most of the nation's early history, the government sought to promote settlement of the expanding frontier by selling off the public domain after it had been acquired. The authority for this came under laws such as the [[Homestead Act]], the [[Timber and Stone Act]], and the [[Morrill Act]].
[[Image:Meridians-baselines.png|thumb|500px|right|Figure 1. This BLM map depicts Public Domain Lands States administered by its predecessor, the [[General Land Office]] (GLO).]]
==See also==
* [[Public land]]
* [[Eminent domain]]
* [[General Mining Act of 1872]]
[[Category:Geography of the United States]]
[[Category:United States public land law]]
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