Yazoo Land Fraud
Who was involved? Think about the people or groups who were involved and affected by this event.
The Yazoo Land Fraud involved several individuals and groups who were either involved in perpetrating the fraud or affected by its consequences:
1. Georgia Politicians and Land Speculators: Politicians in Georgia, including Governor George Mathews, sold millions of acres of land in the Yazoo River region to land speculators in exchange for bribes and kickbacks.
2. Yazoo Land Companies: Four land companies - Georgia Company, Tennessee Company, South Carolina Company, and Virginia Company - were formed to purchase the Yazoo lands from the Georgia politicians. These companies were made up of wealthy investors and land speculators who intended to profit from the land sales.
3. Native American Tribes: The Native American tribes, including the Creek and Cherokee tribes, were the original inhabitants of the Yazoo lands. As a result of the fraudulent land sales, they faced displacement and loss of their ancestral territories.
4. Settlers and Homesteaders: Innocent settlers and homesteaders who had legitimately purchased land within the Yazoo region found themselves in a precarious situation due to conflicting land claims and disputed ownership.
5. Citizens of Georgia: The citizens of Georgia as a whole were affected by the land fraud as the state grappled with the aftermath and attempts to resolve the controversy. The state's reputation was tarnished, and public trust in government officials diminished.
6. Federal Government: The federal government, particularly Congress, became involved in the Yazoo Land Fraud when it was tasked with resolving the land claims and compensating the victims. This led to the infamous Yazoo Act of 1795, which repealed the fraudulent land sales but compensated the land companies.
7. John Milledge: John Milledge, a prominent Georgian politician, played an important role in rectifying the Yazoo Land Fraud. He later served as Georgia's governor and was involved in drafting the Georgia Constitution of 1798, which prohibited similar future land sales.