Western land claims refer to the territorial disputes and competing ownership claims over lands located west of the original thirteen colonies during the early years of the United States.
Related terms
Land Ordinance of 1785: The Land Ordinance of 1785 was an act that established a systematic process for surveying and selling western lands in order to generate revenue for the federal government.
Northwest Ordinance: The Northwest Ordinance was passed in 1787 and provided guidelines for governing newly acquired territories, including establishing conditions for statehood.
Yazoo Land Fraud: The Yazoo Land Fraud involved corrupt land speculation deals in Georgia during the late 18th century, where politicians were bribed to sell large tracts of western lands at low prices, causing public outrage.