Performance Task (Choice #4)
Westward Expansion
Name: ____________________
Date: _____________________
Due Date: _________________
The student will explain significant factors that affected the development of Georgia as
part of the growth of the United States between 1789 and 1840.
Standard - SS8H5:
Element b.: Evaluate the impact of land policies pursued by Georgia; include the headright system, land
lotteries, and the Yazoo land fraud.
Directions:
1. Complete the Research Table about the three land policies pursued by Georgia between 1789 and 1840 and
the impact of each policy. This research should include each of the following policies and the affect of each on
the boundaries/borders of Georgia:
1. The Headright System
2. Land Lotteries
3. The Yazoo Land Fraud
2. Use your textbook, notes from class, and the Internet to help you find information. If you are using the
Internet, you may only use the websites listed below:
 Cobb Virtual Library - http://cvl.cobbk12.org/
 New Georgia Encyclopedia - http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/
 World Book Online Encyclopedia - http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Home
 Google “Early America Maps” - http://www.google.com/
3. Use the attached United States Outline Map to label the changing boundaries/border of Georgia as a result of
the land policies pursued by Georgia and other required events. Given an outline map of the United States
students should:
1. Outline the boundaries of Georgia as stated in the original charter (The Charter of 1732).
2. Shade the areas of Georgia that were distributed by means of the Headright System.
3. Use a different color and shade the areas distributed by means of the Land Lottery.
4. As a result of the French and Indian War, Georgia lost its western territories and the western boundary
was formed by the Mississippi River. On their map, students should indicate, in color, how Georgia’s
boundary changed as a result of the Yazoo land scandal.
*****Be sure to create a Map Key/Legend that details what each color/symbol on the map stands for!*****
4. Once students have completed the Outline Map, students are required to complete a short Written Response.
Students should explain how the Headright System, Land Lotteries, and the Yazoo Land Fraud affected Georgia
as a state (size and location of the state boundaries/borders) and the people of Georgia (opportunity to acquire
more land). You will be graded based on the Revolution, Statehood, and Westward Expansion Project Rubric
(focusing on your completion and accuracy of information labeled on the Outline Map and discussed in your
Written Response). The Outline Map will be graded as 50% of you final project grade with the Research
Table and Written Response each accounting for 25% of the final grade.
Research Table – Complete the following table as you research each of the land
policies pursued by Georgia between 1789 and 1840.
Land Policy
Description of Land
Distribution
Amount of Land
Distributed
Areas of Georgia
Distributed
Previous Ownership
of Land Distributed
Headright System
Land Lotteries
Yazoo Land
Fraud/Scandal
Written Response – Complete a short written response explaining how the
Headright System, Land Lotteries, and the Yazoo Land Fraud affected the size and
shape of Georgia and the lives of Georgia’s citizens. Each of the three written
responses should be a minimum of 3-5 sentences and should demonstrate an
understanding of the topics and their affects.
Headright System ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Land Lotteries __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Yazoo Land Fraud ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Georgia’s Borders
Map Key/Legend: