Improvements to Annexed Cherokee Lands

1830 Map of Cherokee Territory in Georgia

The Treaty of May 6, 1828, granted the Cherokee Nation 7 million acres as a permanent home, recognizing their sovereignty while mandating the cession of remaining lands to the United States. As a result, some Cherokee settlers were displaced from previously believed tribal lands. The treaty stipulated that land ceded would be appraised, and cash payments would be made for improvements made by proprietors. Numerous accounts detail the assessed value of various improvements, reflecting the complexities of land and ownership during this period.