Digital History
Digital History ID 3836

American Land Policy
U.S. Land Policy
Price per acre Minimum purchase
1796 $2.00 640 acres
1800 $2.00 320
1804 $2.00 160
1820 $1.25 80
1832 $1.25 40
1854 $0.125 40
1862 free 160

Peak Land Sales
1816 1.7 million acres
1817 1.9 million acres
1818 3.5 million acres
1819 3.0 million acres
1820 0.8 million acres
1833 3.9 million acres
1834 4.7 million acres
1835 12.6 million acres
1836 20.1 million acres
1837 5.6 million acres
1853 3.8 million acres
1854 12.8 million acres
1855 12.0 million acres
1856 5.2 million acres
1857 4.2 million acres

Questions To Think About

1. How did American land policy change over time?

2. Did land sales occur evenly over time? At what points during the early 19th century were land sales greatest?



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