What system allowed settlers and their family members to each receive 50 acres of land in Virginia?

The Headright System was a land allocation method established in Virginia that encouraged settlement and cultivation of land by providing settlers with 50 acres for themselves and an additional 50 acres for each family member or servant they brought with them. This system was implemented in the early 17th century to attract English settlers to the Virginia Colony, thus increasing its population and economic productivity.

The rationale behind the Headright System was to promote immigration and incentivize the establishment of a working agricultural society in the colony. Those who could pay for passage to Virginia could claim their headrights, which encouraged individuals not only to settle but also to develop the land. Over time, this system significantly contributed to the growth of plantation agriculture in Virginia, while also shaping social and economic structures by leading to landownership and the use of indentured servants.

In comparison, other terms like the Land Grant System and Colonial Land Allocation are more generalized or less specific in the context of Virginia's practices. The Homestead Act, while similar in intent to encourage settlement, was enacted much later, in 1862, focused on westward expansion, and differed significantly in its terms and conditions compared to the Headright System established in the 1600s.