Overview of Land Distribution and Economic Changes in Early 19th Century America
This overview explores significant land policies such as the headright system and the land lottery introduced in Georgia, which aimed to distribute land to eligible individuals. It details the Yazoo Land Fraud and notable events like the Louisiana Purchase, which expanded U.S. territory. The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney revolutionized cotton production, while the development of turnpikes and railroads improved transportation. The rise of various religious movements and educational institutions like Land Grant Universities reflects the evolving social landscape of the time.
Overview of Land Distribution and Economic Changes in Early 19th Century America
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Presentation Transcript
Head-right System It gave the “head” of the family (the dad)up to 1,000 acres of land It was replaced by a land lottery in 1803. For a small fee you could spin a wheel through chance to win land. Qualifications for land lottery: 1. White male: 21 years old, unmarried 2. Widows, War Veterans, Married with children
Yazoo Land Fraud • The state legislature allowed the land to be sold for $.01 an acre to the land companies. • The company bought 50 million acres of land for $500,000 • In 1802, Georgia gave up its land West of the Chattahoochee River
Louisiana Purchase • In 1803, President Jefferson bought Louisiana Territory from France for $ 15 million dollars. • The Untied States now extended West to the Rocky Mountains.
Eli Whitney • He invented the cotton gin • Before the cotton gin, a worker might have been able to separate six or seven pounds of cotton. After the cotton gin about fifty pounds.
Transportation • Turnpike-Major highways that were built by the federal government in the early 1800’s(Pay a fee) • Railroads-The railroads shortened travel time for passengers and freight • Depression-A sharp economic down turn. Banks and businesses fail. Farmers lose their land.
Religion • Methodist circuit riders – Ministers went from district to district and founded churches on the frontier • Joseph Smith- Founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) • 1787 – Free blacks founded Springfield Baptist Church in Augusta. • 1788 – First African Baptist Church & first synagogue in Savannah • 1816 – African Methodist Episcopal Church founded by Richard Allen • 1865- First A.M.E. church in GA in Savannah
Education • Land Grant University- A school for which the federal government donated the land. • 1784 – State land grant used to build UGA, first land grant university • Academies-In 1786, the government required each county to open schools, gave them no money • By 1820 – only 40 schools in GA