-- Unit 6 -- 1790 to 1840 Growth and Prosperity. Some Background Tidbits! Population: The population of the US in 1790 was about 4 million. (There are.

-- Unit 6 ---- Unit 6 --1790 to 18401790 to 1840Growth and Growth and ProsperityProsperity

Some Background Tidbits!Some Background Tidbits!

Population: The population

of the US in 1790 was about

4 million. (T

here are over

311 million people today, 9.8

million in the state of

Georgia.)

A young factory worker of

the time earned about

$3.50 per week. A child

working in the mills of

New England earned 7-

cents per day.

Homes in Georgia ranged from simple cabins

To plantation-style homes

Cotton clothing became popular after 1793.

Moustaches became fashionable for

men.

In the cities, men continued to wear knee-high britches, white stockings, long-tailed coats, vests and shirts.

Women in the cities wore long gowns

with three-quarter sleeves and low cut

bodices.

Obviously, those people in the backcountry wore much more modest, practical, and simple clothes!

A loaf of bread cost 3-cents.

A dozen eggs cost 12 cents

A pound of butter cost 14 cents

And a whole chicken cost 14 cents

ArtArtPortraits were popular. Two successful

artists of the day were:

Charles Pealeand Ralph Earl

TransportationTransportation Most transportation for long distances was by Most transportation for long distances was by

stage coach. Stage coach roads crossed back stage coach. Stage coach roads crossed back and forth across the state.and forth across the state.

This was a period in history when the This was a period in history when the nation was growing dramatically.nation was growing dramatically.

As a result, many people were taken As a result, many people were taken advantage of, and many were advantage of, and many were blessed, as they tried to make new blessed, as they tried to make new lives.lives.

Georgia’s GrowthGeorgia’s Growth In 1790, Georgia’s population was In 1790, Georgia’s population was

82,54882,548 Each dot represents 400 people.

The un-shaded area is Native American territory.

In 10 years, the population almost In 10 years, the population almost doubled to 162,686.doubled to 162,686.

Where does most of the new growth seem to be taking place?

What might cause this?

By 1810, the population had grown to By 1810, the population had grown to 252,433.252,433.

Did the area around Savannah change much from 1790 to 1810?

By 1820, the population was By 1820, the population was 340,989.340,989.

The southern portion of the state had opened up, but no one seemed too anxious to move there. What may have discouraged them?

By 1830, Georgia’s population jumped By 1830, Georgia’s population jumped to over half a million (516,823).to over half a million (516,823).

In 1829, gold was discovered in Cherokee Territory. Does the map indicate what might happen next?

By 1840, Georgia resembled the shape By 1840, Georgia resembled the shape we now know, and the population had we now know, and the population had grown to 691,392. grown to 691,392.

By 1840, 41% of Georgia’s total population was made up of slaves. Does the map give clues to where Georgia’s cotton crops were grown?

Where did the Native Americans Where did the Native Americans go?go?

Before the American Revolution, many Native Before the American Revolution, many Native Americans went heavily into debt from Americans went heavily into debt from dealing with shrewd white traders. To settle dealing with shrewd white traders. To settle these debts, the Cherokees and Creeks these debts, the Cherokees and Creeks cededceded more than 2 million acres of land in more than 2 million acres of land in 1773.1773.

As more white settlers moved in, pressure As more white settlers moved in, pressure was placed on the tribes to move further was placed on the tribes to move further west.west.

Distributing the LandDistributing the Land After the Indians cede the land, how After the Indians cede the land, how

should it be distributed? should it be distributed? Sell it? Sell it? ((what are the benefitswhat are the benefits?)?) Give it away? Give it away? ((what are the benefitswhat are the benefits?)?)

The Headright SystemThe Headright System Under the headright system, each “head” Under the headright system, each “head”

of household had a “right” to a certain of household had a “right” to a certain amount of land.amount of land.

The head of a family was entitled to 200 The head of a family was entitled to 200 acres of unclaimed land.acres of unclaimed land.

50 additional acres were granted for each 50 additional acres were granted for each family member and slave.family member and slave.

Up to 1000 acres could be held by one Up to 1000 acres could be held by one family.family.

The benefits of military The benefits of military serviceservice

Under the headright system, Under the headright system, veterans veterans of the American Revolution received of the American Revolution received additional landadditional land to compensate them to compensate them for their service to the country.for their service to the country.

High ranking generals received an High ranking generals received an additionaladditional 1,955 acres. 1,955 acres.

Privates received an additional 288 Privates received an additional 288 acres.acres.

PlatsPlats

A A platplat is a map of a land lot. is a map of a land lot. Plats of the headright days show that Plats of the headright days show that

properties were a mix of irregular properties were a mix of irregular shapes.shapes.

Who determined the shape of a Who determined the shape of a headright’s land?headright’s land?

Georgia’s Capital On the Georgia’s Capital On the MoveMove

In 1733, Savannah In 1733, Savannah became the official became the official capital of Georgia. capital of Georgia. However, after the However, after the Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War, the General the General Assembly began Assembly began meeting in meeting in Augusta? Augusta?

Why would they Why would they meet in Augusta? meet in Augusta?

In 1786, Augusta In 1786, Augusta became the became the capital.capital.

As Geogia’s As Geogia’s population spread population spread westward the westward the capital followed. capital followed. In 1796, a site on In 1796, a site on the Ogeechee the Ogeechee River was chosen, River was chosen, and Louisville and Louisville became the became the capital.capital.

After only 11 After only 11 years, the capital years, the capital was moved again was moved again to a site on the to a site on the Oconee River. Oconee River. Milledgeville Milledgeville would remain would remain Georgia’s capital Georgia’s capital until 1868.until 1868.

Why was it Why was it important to important to move the capital move the capital as the population as the population moved?moved?

Hypothetical ScenarioHypothetical Scenario Your family sees an ad in the paper Your family sees an ad in the paper

advertising beachfront land for sale on an advertising beachfront land for sale on an island on Georgia’s coast. The land is island on Georgia’s coast. The land is very inexpensive, so your family buys very inexpensive, so your family buys some land and moves to a beautiful some land and moves to a beautiful barrier island, complete with wild horses barrier island, complete with wild horses and huge maritime forests. You build a and huge maritime forests. You build a dream home and plan your future there.dream home and plan your future there.

Later, you find out that you can’t live Later, you find out that you can’t live there. You bought land on Cumberland there. You bought land on Cumberland Island, a protected seashore owned by Island, a protected seashore owned by the state of Georgia.the state of Georgia.

It turns out that a company bribed some It turns out that a company bribed some of Georgia’s legislators to create of Georgia’s legislators to create paperwork, allowing the company to buy paperwork, allowing the company to buy Cumberland Island for pennies an acre, Cumberland Island for pennies an acre, then sell it to the citizens of Georgia for a then sell it to the citizens of Georgia for a higher price. The legislators would higher price. The legislators would receive part of the profit, and the receive part of the profit, and the company would get very rich.company would get very rich.

You are living on illegally purchased land. You are living on illegally purchased land.

What do you do? What does the state of What do you do? What does the state of Georgia do?Georgia do?

The State’s Worst Political The State’s Worst Political ScandalScandal

In In 17951795, the people of Georgia learned of , the people of Georgia learned of a scandal that would be known as a scandal that would be known as “Georgia’s worst political scandal” – “Georgia’s worst political scandal” – the the Yazoo Land Fraud.Yazoo Land Fraud.

fraud (n.) -- A deception deliberately fraud (n.) -- A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain. A piece of trickery; a trick. unlawful gain. A piece of trickery; a trick.

BackgroundBackground The trouble The trouble started in the started in the 1780’s when 1780’s when Georgia tried Georgia tried to sell some to sell some land on its land on its western western border to border to three three companies, companies, who, in turn who, in turn wanted to sell wanted to sell the land to the land to settlers at a settlers at a higher price.higher price.

When someone buys land with the plan of When someone buys land with the plan of

selling it later at a higher price (and selling it later at a higher price (and making a profit), it is called making a profit), it is called land land speculation.speculation.

Land Speculation is perfectly legal, and in Land Speculation is perfectly legal, and in the late 1780’s it was extremely popular.the late 1780’s it was extremely popular.

What might keep people from buying land What might keep people from buying land along Georgia’s western edge? (along Georgia’s western edge? (Look at a Look at a map from 1790 or 1800 for a cluemap from 1790 or 1800 for a clue) )

TroubleTrouble In 1795, four companies bribed many In 1795, four companies bribed many

members of the General Assembly to members of the General Assembly to pass a special law.pass a special law.

This law allowed the companies to buy This law allowed the companies to buy 35 million acres of land along the Yazoo 35 million acres of land along the Yazoo River, in Georgia’s western frontier.River, in Georgia’s western frontier.

Much of what is now Alabama and Much of what is now Alabama and Mississippi was sold to these companies Mississippi was sold to these companies for less than 2-cents per acre! for less than 2-cents per acre!

The bargain The bargain land was then sold to the land was then sold to the public at a huge profit.public at a huge profit. Some of the land Some of the land was sold to other companies, and some was sold to other companies, and some to innocent citizens who planned to move to innocent citizens who planned to move to the frontier.to the frontier.

When people in Georgia heard of the land When people in Georgia heard of the land fraud, they demanded justice. Some fraud, they demanded justice. Some legislators, fearing for their lives, fled the legislators, fearing for their lives, fled the state.state.

One legislator who vowed that he would One legislator who vowed that he would repeal repeal the act said he was “prepared to the act said he was “prepared to call out and shoot every person involved call out and shoot every person involved in passing the act.” in passing the act.”

Voters voted out the corrupt legislators and Voters voted out the corrupt legislators and elected new ones to clean up the mess.elected new ones to clean up the mess.

All copies of the “Yazoo Act” (except one) All copies of the “Yazoo Act” (except one) were gathered in front of the capital on were gathered in front of the capital on February 21, 1796 and “consumed by Holy February 21, 1796 and “consumed by Holy Fire from Heaven.” (with the help of a Fire from Heaven.” (with the help of a magnifying glass)magnifying glass)

AftermathAftermath Georgia asked the US Government to get Georgia asked the US Government to get

involved.involved. The Georgia legislature offered to pay the The Georgia legislature offered to pay the

settlers and companies for the land that settlers and companies for the land that they purchased.they purchased. (But some didn’t want to (But some didn’t want to leave!)leave!)

Georgia agreed to Georgia agreed to cede cede the land to the the land to the United States (for $1.25 million)United States (for $1.25 million)

The United States promised to remove all of The United States promised to remove all of the Indians so white settlers could move in.the Indians so white settlers could move in.

Those people who didn’t want to give Those people who didn’t want to give up their land and settlements took the up their land and settlements took the case to the U.S. Supreme court.case to the U.S. Supreme court.

It was finally resolved in 1814 (19 It was finally resolved in 1814 (19 years later) when the U.S. years later) when the U.S. government took over the territory government took over the territory and paid the claims.and paid the claims.

For decades afterwards, politicians For decades afterwards, politicians used the government’s promise to used the government’s promise to remove the Indians as a political tool. remove the Indians as a political tool.

Part of Georgia’s old western frontier Part of Georgia’s old western frontier became the Mississippi Territory.became the Mississippi Territory.

Georgia gains land from the Georgia gains land from the CreeksCreeks

In 1802, fighting broke out between In 1802, fighting broke out between the Creek Indian tribe and white the Creek Indian tribe and white Georgians along the Oconee River.Georgians along the Oconee River.

The Oconee The Oconee River had been River had been an agreed an agreed boundary, but boundary, but whites wanted to whites wanted to move further move further west.west.

In June, 1802, the Creeks signed a In June, 1802, the Creeks signed a treaty ceding a stretch of land west treaty ceding a stretch of land west of the Oconee River. Two years later, of the Oconee River. Two years later, another treaty ceded all of the land another treaty ceded all of the land all the way to the Ocmulgee River.all the way to the Ocmulgee River.

The Land LotteryThe Land Lottery

With more land came a decision to With more land came a decision to change the way Georgians received change the way Georgians received land. The headright system granted land. The headright system granted land in odd shapes and was difficult land in odd shapes and was difficult to keep track of. Allowing land to keep track of. Allowing land speculators to purchase land resulted speculators to purchase land resulted in fraud, so a more “equal” method in fraud, so a more “equal” method was created – the Land Lottery.was created – the Land Lottery.

Under the land lottery, surveyors would Under the land lottery, surveyors would divide the land into square-shaped lots.divide the land into square-shaped lots.

The lots were smaller than the The lots were smaller than the headright system, to encourage more headright system, to encourage more families to move into the land.families to move into the land.

Lot sized varied depending on the Lot sized varied depending on the quality of the land. quality of the land. – In the Pine Barrens, lots were 490 acres In the Pine Barrens, lots were 490 acres

each.each.– In the Piedmont, they were 202.5 acres In the Piedmont, they were 202.5 acres

each.each.– Later, in the former Cherokee Territory, lots Later, in the former Cherokee Territory, lots

were 160 acres, and some that were known were 160 acres, and some that were known to contain gold were 40 acres.to contain gold were 40 acres.

The DrawingThe Drawing After the land was surveyed, the state After the land was surveyed, the state

held a lottery (or drawing).held a lottery (or drawing). Every white male U.S. citizen who had Every white male U.S. citizen who had

lived in Georgia for 12 months and lived in Georgia for 12 months and was at least 21 years old was allowed was at least 21 years old was allowed one chance.one chance.

If he had a wife and child, he got two If he had a wife and child, he got two chances.chances.

Widows and orphans also got chances.Widows and orphans also got chances.

People who wanted land would registerPeople who wanted land would register at at a county courthouse.a county courthouse.

Their names were sent to the state Their names were sent to the state capitol where their capitol where their names were written names were written on tickets and placed in a barrelon tickets and placed in a barrel..

In another barrel, tickets were numbered In another barrel, tickets were numbered to represent each of the parcels of land.to represent each of the parcels of land.

State officials would draw names and State officials would draw names and numbers from the barrels at the numbers from the barrels at the same time.same time.

Those who received land were called “fortunate drawers.”

Except for a recording fee of $4 for every 100 acres, it was absolutely free.

The The first land lottery was held in 1805.first land lottery was held in 1805. During the next 28 years, five more During the next 28 years, five more

lotteries were held.lotteries were held. Under the lottery system, Georgia Under the lottery system, Georgia

distributed about 30 million acres of distributed about 30 million acres of land west of the Oconee River to more land west of the Oconee River to more than 100,000 fortunate drawers.than 100,000 fortunate drawers.

QUESTION: Which seems more fair, the QUESTION: Which seems more fair, the headright system or the land lottery? headright system or the land lottery? Why?Why?