Beginnings of the American Rectangular Land Survey System, 1784-1800

Abstract

Virginia's extensive western claims had comprised the particular grounds for Maryland's celebrated refusal to ratify the Articles of the Confederation, in 1777, without Congress' being given the power to "ascertain and restrict the boundaries of such of the confederated states which claim to extend to the River Mississippi or the South Sea."In 1779, Virginia passed a land act whose surveying content will be a subject of repeated refer- p ence in forthcoming pages.This act threw open Kentucky lands for sale, but notably excluded lands north of the Ohio, foreshad-ô wing their cession to the United States in response to the pro- tests of Maryland and other landless states.Subsequently, in January, 1781, Virginia offered to cede the Northwest, and Mary land soon after entered the Union.For three years, acceptance present confusion of the Indian Nations, I could silence the whole in two months.