The Pursuit of Land

Land was a measure of wealth Headright system – heads of families were

entitled to 200 acres plus 50 acres for each family member including slaves (up to 1000 acres) – used to distribute land until 1803

brought much immigration into the state caused fraud and corruption, as dishonest

officials granted more land than actually existed to land speculators (who hoped to profit later)

Yazoo Land Fraud

1795 - Scheme to sell land in Georgia representatives from four private land companies

bribed many Georgia politicians to sell very cheap land to them

The law allowed 35 million acres to be sold for less than 2 cents an acre

When the citizens found out, they burned the Yazoo Act on the steps of the capitol in Louisville

Yazoo cont.

The US government agreed to buy all of Georgia’s Western lands to help pay Georgia pay off its debts from the Yazoo Land Fraud

Its western border was set at the Chattahoochee River. The US also agreed to remove all Indians from Georgia

when needed In this way, the Yazoo Land Fraud eventually led to the

Trail of Tears

Land Lottery

After Yazoo fraud, there was a new system for distributing land

1803 – land lottery to give people equal chances White men living in Georgia for a year were given one

chance. A man with a family, widows with children were given two

chances Often land was given away that had Native Americans

already living on it.

Cotton Gin

New settlers were pouring into Georgia and the economy was booming

One reason was the successful cotton crop. However it was difficult to separate cotton from the seeds

1793 – Eli Whitney invited the cotton gin to separate the seed from the fibers

changed the history of the south In 1790 GA produced 1,500 lbs of cotton In 1860 GA produced over 1,000,000 lbs Georgia becomes the top cotton producer in the world

Railroads

A better way was needed to get cotton to market in Savannah

reduced the need for horses, stagecoaches, and boats

1834, workers began to build railroad from Athens to Augusta. Soon other railroads were built as well

By 1860, 1,200 miles of railroad is built in Georgia.

Atlanta and Railroads

Two railroad lines ended in Terminus

This made Terminus a transportation center

1843 name changed to Marthasville

1845 name changed to Atlanta

1900: Atlanta is the center of railroad traffic