| November 20, 1789 |
The Virginia Yazoo Company (headed by Patrick Henry), the Tennesse Company and the Carolina Company apply for land grants from the state of Georgia
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| December 21, 1789 |
First Yazoo Land Act becomes law granting 5,000,000 acres of vacant land to three companies
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| April 28, 1790 |
President Washington expresses his disapproval of the actions of Patrick Henry and others in the First Yazoo Act
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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George Washington |
| December 3, 1794 |
"..it would be right and proper to sell a part of the western territory of this State during the present session." With these words began the Yazoo Land Fraud
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| December 25, 1794 |
Several men threaten the governor of Georgia to make it unpleasant for him if he does not sign the Yazoo Act. Governor Mathews does not listen
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| December 29, 1794 |
Gov. George Mathews returns the Yazoo Act to the state legislature questioning the amount of money the state is to recieve and encouraging more participation of Georgia citizens
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| January 2, 1795 |
Amended version of the Yazoo Act passed by the Georgia House
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| January 3, 1795 |
Amended version of the Yazoo Act passed by the Georgia Senate
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| January 7, 1795 |
Governor George Mathews signs into law a bill that agrees to sell almost 40 million acres to speculators at the starting the Yazoo Land Fraud. This corrupt deal led to the downfall of many popular politicians of the day.
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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Georgia headright grants |
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James Gunn |
| January 13, 1795 |
Land is deeded to The Georgia Company, The Georgia-Mississippi Company, The Tennessee Company and the Upper Mississippi Company under the corrupt Yazoo Act. Georgia Governor George Mathews signs the deed. |
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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Fletcher v. Peck |
| February 17, 1795 |
President George Washington, speaking about the Yazoo Land Act states "...These acts embrace an object of such magnitude and in their consequences may so deeply affect the peace and welfare of the United States..."
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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George Washington |
| February 23, 1795 |
The U. S. Congress denounces the Yazoo Land Act
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| August 22, 1795 |
During the Yazoo Land Fraud, James Gunn, Mathew M'Allister, George Walker, Zachariah Cox, Jacob Walburger, William Longstreet and Wade Hampton, by deed, convey a portion of the Georgia Company's land to James Greenleaf. Greenleaf's later sale of the land results in the landmark U. S. Supreme Court ruling, Fletcher v. Peck. |
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James Gunn |
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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Fletcher v. Peck |
| December 11, 1795 |
The Georgia Union Company is added to the Yazoo Act
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| January 14, 1796 |
Responding to public pressure, almost all legislators who profited from the Yazoo Land Act are removed from office. U.S. Senator James Jackson, now a member of the state legislature, convenes the so-called "Reform Legislature"
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James Jackson |
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| January 22, 1796 |
Report of the Yazoo Land Fraud presented to the Reform Legislature
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| February 13, 1796 |
Gov. Irwin signs a bill rescinding the Yazoo Land Act. It will take 6 years and a landmark Supreme Court ruling for the state to settle claims resulting from this legislation
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| February 18, 1796 |
Act rescinding the Yazoo Land Act becomes law
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| April 7, 1798 |
U. S. Congress authorizes three commissioners to negotiate with Georgia for the cession of all or part of the lands encompassed by the Yazoo Land Act of 1795
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| April 26, 1802 |
Georgia cedes the land involved in the Yazoo Land Fraud (and the associated legal problems) to the United States. In exchange the state receives 1.25 million dollars and the promise of removal of the Cherokee Indians from the present-day boundaries of the state. President Thomas Jefferson announces the cession of Yazoo Act lands to the U. S. government
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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| February 16, 1810 |
Chief Justice John Marshall in Fletcher vs. Peck renders Peck's title to land purchased during the Yazoo Land Fraud as valid
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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Fletcher v. Peck |
| November 18, 1818 |
Settlement for Yazoo Land Fraud claims is complete, with the government spending almost 4.3 million dollars to pay the claimants
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Yazoo Land Fraud
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