I have no background in this area, but saw an interesting allusion to your idea the other day[1] Republicans in Congress passed the 1862 Homestead Act, off

I have no background in this area, but saw an interesting allusion to your idea the other day[1] Republicans in Congress passed the 1862 Homestead Act, offering free land to settlers who would move to territories that would eventually become states — creating more Senate seats and Electoral College votes for a Republican Party eager to keep government control away from Southern Democrats. They even managed to divide the Dakota Territory into two states, worth twice the political power. 1. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/upshot/as-american-as-apple-pie-the-rural-votes-disproportionate-slice-of-power.html http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/upshot/as-american-as-appl...