Which legislation created the public land survey system?

The Land Ordinance of 1785 is the legislation that established the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). This system was created to systematically subdivide and allocate public lands in the western United States. It provided a method for surveying and selling land to settlers, which was crucial as the nation expanded westward.

The PLSS uses a grid system based on principal meridians and base lines to define land parcels, making it easier to identify and manage land ownership. The framework established by the Land Ordinance set the precedent for how land was organized and utilized in newly acquired territories, significantly influencing property law and land management in the United States.

While the Homestead Act facilitated land distribution to settlers, it didn't establish the survey system itself. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Public Land Management Act focus on land management and use policies, not on the initial creation of the survey system. Thus, the Land Ordinance of 1785 is the appropriate choice because it directly correlates with the establishment of the Public Land Survey System.