Yazoo Land Fraud

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
December 21, 1789	First Yazoo Land Act becomes law granting 5,000,000 acres of vacant land to three companies
April 28, 1790	President Washington expresses his disapproval of the actions of Patrick Henry and others in the First Yazoo Act
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
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
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
January 2, 1795	Amended version of the Yazoo Act passed by the Georgia House
January 3, 1795	Amended version of the Yazoo Act passed by the Georgia Senate
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.
	Georgia headright grants
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..."
February 23, 1795	The U. S. Congress denounces the Yazoo Land Act
December 11, 1795	The Georgia Union Company is added to the Yazoo Act
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"
	James Jackson
January 22, 1796	Report of the Yazoo Land Fraud presented to the Reform Legislature
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
February 18, 1796	Act rescinding the Yazoo Land Act becomes law
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
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
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
November 18, 1818	Settlement for Yazoo Land Fraud claims is complete, with the government spending almost 4.3 million dollars to pay the claimants