Yazoo Land Sale

After the American Revolution, Georgia feared that it would not be able to protect its

settlements in the western part of Georgia.

To fix this problem, the Georgia government sold 35 million acres of the western land to four

companies for the price of $500,000.

This land cost less than 2 cents per acre.

This land did not necessarily belong to Georgia, but the governor signed it over anyways. Georgia

legislators took bribes to support the sale.

The Georgia government had hoped that the sale would help the economy in many ways.

The business companies began selling the lands, gaining huge profits from

them, which became developed areas. The

presence of these businesses would keep the

area safe, and would provide jobs and products to

Georgians.

As these lands became

developed, settlers would be

more likely to move to western Georgia if they

felt the area was safe and

protected.

Georgians found out about the bribe, and they were shocked by the corruption. They protested in the streets and collected signatures on petitions that opposed the Yazoo land sale. Despite this,

the sale went through.

Georgia Senator James Jackson found out about the Yazoo deal and resigned from the Senate.

Georgia, I shall save you!

He came back to Georgia and set a goal to reverse the Yazoo land sale. He and his allies

were quickly voted into office, because they had great support from Georgians.

They passed the 1796 Rescinding Act, which reversed the Yazoo land sale.

 

The act also required the U.S. government to promise that it would help remove the remaining Creek Indians from Georgia. This act, in part, led

to the Trail of Tears in 1838.