The national land system, 1785-1820

The author writes in his Preface that, “It is the purpose of this study to show how the national public lands passed into private ownership during the first great period of our land system.” “Between 1776 and 1820 the public domain had been formed, the land system had been organized, the granting of land for education and military services had been introduced, and grants for internal improvements had been discussed, while the methods for confirming foreign titles had been well worked out. But especially it was the period of the credit system, the operation of which well deserves consideration.”