Land Act of 1820
Encyclopedia
The Land Act of 1820 is a United States federal law that eliminated the purchase of public land
in the United States on credit. It also reduced the minimum size of the tract from 160 to 80 acres (647,000 to 324,000 m²). Additionally, the act required a down payment of $100 and reduced the price from $1.65 to $1.25 per acre ($408 to $309/km²). The land was located in the Northwest Territory
and Missouri Territory
, in what was then "the West". This was needed because farmers had trouble paying off their loans due to the economic hardship related to the Panic of 1819
. The land ordinance of 1785 made land too expensive for the average American that was moving west. And squatters were breaking the laws by trying to get cheap land. They did this by moving onto the land before it was up for sale then they would try to get cheaper by saying the improvements on the land made the land more expensive. Congress did not like this and had to do something about it. The act was instrumental in ushering in a new age of Western influence. The low price made it possible for settler
s to move to the West, thus increasing the population
in the west, and with it, Congressional
seats from the eventual states
. Although the Land Act of 1820 was good for the average American it was even better for the wealthy investor, who had a lot of money to buy cheap land. Although the Land Act helped create a new age of Western influence, it also continued in the confiscation of land from Native Americans
.
Public domain (land)
Public domain is a term used to describe lands that were not under private or state ownership during the 18th and 19th centuries in the United States, as the country was expanding. These lands were obtained from the 13 original colonies, from Native American tribes, or from purchase from other...
in the United States on credit. It also reduced the minimum size of the tract from 160 to 80 acres (647,000 to 324,000 m²). Additionally, the act required a down payment of $100 and reduced the price from $1.65 to $1.25 per acre ($408 to $309/km²). The land was located in the Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
and Missouri Territory
Missouri Territory
The Territory of Missouri was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 4, 1812 until August 10, 1821, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Missouri.-History:...
, in what was then "the West". This was needed because farmers had trouble paying off their loans due to the economic hardship related to the Panic of 1819
Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 was the first major financial crisis in the United States, and had occurred during the political calm of the Era of Good Feelings. The new nation previously had faced a depression following the war of independence in the late 1780s and led directly to the establishment of the...
. The land ordinance of 1785 made land too expensive for the average American that was moving west. And squatters were breaking the laws by trying to get cheap land. They did this by moving onto the land before it was up for sale then they would try to get cheaper by saying the improvements on the land made the land more expensive. Congress did not like this and had to do something about it. The act was instrumental in ushering in a new age of Western influence. The low price made it possible for settler
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
s to move to the West, thus increasing the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
in the west, and with it, Congressional
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
seats from the eventual states
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
. Although the Land Act of 1820 was good for the average American it was even better for the wealthy investor, who had a lot of money to buy cheap land. Although the Land Act helped create a new age of Western influence, it also continued in the confiscation of land from Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
.