1. Concepts: Movement / Migration Rule of Law Conflict and Change
SS8H5b Evaluate the impact of land policies pursued by Georgia; include the headright system, land lotteries, and the Yazoo land fraud.
Concepts:
Movement / Migration
Rule of Law
Conflict and Change

2. What impact did the headright system, land lottery, and Yazoo land fraud have on Georgia?

3. HEADRIGHT SYSTEM
A system that granted between 200 and 1,000 acres of land to the heads of families.
It was used to attract settlers and economic development in Georgia.
The government provided land to Georgians east of the Oconee River.
Each white male counted as a “head” of a family and had the “right” to receive anywhere from 200 – 1,000 acres of land.

4. HEADRIGHT SYSTEM
Farmers and ranchers were able to start up their businesses
But by 1782, most of the land was given to Revolutionary War veterans for their service; this practice led to corruption

5. THE RESULT IS MORE WESTWARD EXPANSION OF SETTLERS
INDIAN LAND CESSIONS MEANT THAT CREEK AND CHEROKEE INDIANS IN GEORGIA GAVE UP THEIR LAND IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY OR TRADING RIGHTS / PRIVILEGES
THE RESULT IS MORE WESTWARD EXPANSION OF SETTLERS

6. What impact did the headright system, land lottery, and Yazoo land fraud have on Georgia?
Land east of Oconee River.
White male “head” of a family had “right” to 200 – 1,000 acres of land.
Farmers and ranchers begin businesses
1782 – most land given to Revolutionary War veterans
YAZOO LAND FRAUD
LAND LOTTERY

7. YAZOO LAND FRAUD
Four land companies bribed the governor of Georgia and the General Assembly (legislature) to pass a bill allowing them to buy large tracts of land near the Yazoo River in Mississippi.
The companies bought up to 35 million acres of land for only 1 ½ cents per acre. The companies would then sell the land at much higher prices and share the profits with the legislators; governor George Matthews signed the Yazoo Act on January 7, 1795
When Georgia citizens found out they protested and the legislators were voted out of office.

8. YAZOO LAND FRAUD
1796 Rescinding Act - The US government solved the scandal by forcing Georgia to cede (give up) the lands west of the Chattahoochee River in exchange for $1.25 million dollars and a promise to help remove Creek and Cherokee Indians from the Georgia territories.
The Yazoo Land Fraud is a reason why Georgia’s western border is shaped the way it is today.

10. BURNING OF THE YAZOO LAND FRAUD RECORDS AT THE CAPITOL BUILDING IN LOUISVILLE - 1796

11. What impact did the headright system, land lottery, and Yazoo land fraud have on Georgia?
Land east of Oconee River.
White male “head” of a family had “right” to 200 – 1,000 acres of land.
Farmers and ranchers begin businesses
1782 – most land given to Revolutionary War veterans for their service
YAZOO LAND FRAUD
Land companies bribed GA government to buy land near Yazoo River
Sold land and shared profits with legislators.
Citizens protested and legislators voted out of office.
US government forced Georgia to cede (give up) lands west of Chattahoochee River forming Georgia’s western border.
LAND LOTTERY

12. LAND LOTTERY
GEORGIANS WANTED TO SETTLE LANDS THAT WERE ONCE OCCUPIED BY CREEK AND CHEROKEE INDIANS.
TICKETS PLACED IN TWO DRUMS, ONE WITH NAMES FOR EACH LOT AND OTHER WITH THE PERSON’S NAME. TICKET SELECTED FROM DRUM MATCHED TO NAME OF PERSON FROM OTHER DRUM.
WHITE MALES, ORPHANS, AND WIDOWS ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE. DEPENDING ON AGE, WAR SERVICE, MARITAL STATUS, AND YEARS OF RESIDENCY IN THE STATE YOU COULD RECEIVE MORE TICKETS, OR CHANCES.
IT LASTED FROM

13. LAND LOTTERY
IT INVOLVED LANDS WEST OF THE OCONEE RIVER THAT WERE VACATED BY CREEK AND CHEROKEE INDIANS FROM LAND TREATIES AND THE OCONEE WAR AND WAR OF /4TH OF STATE LAND WAS GIVEN TO OVER 100,000 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS
GEORGIANS WANTED TO SETTLE IN LANDS VACATED BY CREEKS AND CHEROKEES IN ORDER TO CREATE COTTON AND TOBACCO PLANTATIONS

14. LAND LOTTERY
Because of the Land Lottery, Georgia started to have a shift in power. Georgia had been ruled by wealthy planter aristocrats. But through the land lottery, almost any man could become a landowner. Power and wealth began to be distributed more evenly among white men of Georgia.

15. LAND LOTTERY

16. NOTICE THE WESTWARD EXPANSION OF SETTLERS IN GEORGIA FROM 1733-1835
NOTICE THE WESTWARD EXPANSION OF SETTLERS IN GEORGIA FROM LANDS EAST OF THE OCONEE RIVER WERE SETTLED BECAUSE OF THE HEADRIGHT SYSTEM LAND POLICY. LANDS WEST OF THE OCONEE RIVER WERE SETTLED FROM THE LAND LOTTERY.
OCONEE RIVER
HEADRIGHT SYSTEM
LAND LOTTERY

17. What impact did the headright system, land lottery, and Yazoo land fraud have on Georgia?
Land east of Oconee River.
White male “head” of a family had “right” to 200 – 1,000 acres of land.
Farmers and ranchers begin businesses
1782 – most land given to Revolutionary War veterans for their service
YAZOO LAND FRAUD
Land companies bribed GA government to buy land near Yazoo River
Sold land and shared profits with legislators.
Citizens protested and legislators voted out of office.
US government forced Georgia to cede (give up) lands west of Chattahoochee River forming Georgia’s western border.
LAND LOTTERY
land west of Oconee River
Given to citizens after removal of Creeks and Cherokees.
White males, orphans, and widows received land.
Power and wealth for more people
Agricultural economy -tobacco and cotton plantations