DSG - Land Policies (Lesson)

Land Policies

Introduction

Georgia saw tremendous growth in the post war years; unfortunately that growth would force tense relationships with the Native American population. The Georgia government forced the Native Americans to cede territory as they offered white males the opportunity to grow their land under the headright system. As the population boomed greed began to set in and the Yazoo Land Fraud took place in 1795. 

 

Pursuit of Land

The Georgia government began to force Indians to cede territory. At first, the government distributed land using the “each white male headright system”. Each white male was “head” of the household and had “right” to land. They received 200 acres plus 50 for each additional household member; Revolutionary War veterans could acquire even more land.

 

Yazoo Land Fraud

The Yazoo Land Fraud took place in 1795 and involved land in the western part of Georgia which is now Alabama and Mississippi. Land companies formed to buy large tracts of land and bribed members of General Assembly to pass the Yazoo Act.

 

Compact of 1802

Georgia was forced to give up land in Yazoo Land Fraud to the United States. Georgia ceded land west of Chattahoochee River. Georgia’s boundaries became essentially the state's current boundaries.

 

Land Lottery System

The land lottery system was established to distribute land in 1803. Between 1805-1832 Georgia used this system to distribute land acquired from Creek and Cherokee tribes. By 1802 the permanent border was established.

 

 

Land Policies

Learn more about Georgia's Land Policies by watching the presentation below.

 

 

 

Review

Review what you've learned by completing the activity below.

 

 

 

 

The Yazoo Land Fraud changed land grant methods in Georgia. By 1802, Georgia had ceded the land to the national government. Check out the article from the Georgia Archives to dig deeper into the controversy.

Click here to read the article. Links to an external site.

 

  IMAGES CREATED BY GAVS 
YAZOO LAND FRAUD MAP, COURTESY OF GEORGIA INFO, DIGITAL LIBRARY OF GEORGIA
SKETCH OF LAND LOTTERY, - ARTWORK BY GEORGE I. PARRISH JR. COURTESY OF CINDY PARRISH, MARYVILLE,TN