Yazoo Land Sale

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Yazoo Land Sale
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After the American Revolution, Georgia feared
that it would not be able to protect its
settlements in the western part of Georgia.
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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.

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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.
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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.
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As these lands became developed, settlers would
be more likely to move to western Georgia if they
felt the area was safe and protected.
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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.
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Georgia Senator James Jackson found out about the
Yazoo deal and resigned from the Senate.
Georgia, I shall save you!
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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.
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They passed the 1796 Rescinding Act, which
reversed the Yazoo land sale.

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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.
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