Gold Lottery of 1832 facts for kids
The Gold Lottery of 1832 was a special event in Georgia's history. It was the seventh time the state used a lottery system to give away land. This system, called the Georgia Land Lotteries, was used between 1805 and 1833 to share out land that had belonged to the Cherokee Nation.
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What Was the Gold Lottery of 1832?
The Gold Lottery of 1832 was a way for the state of Georgia to give away land. This land was part of the territory of the Cherokee Nation. The lottery was approved by the Georgia General Assembly on December 24, 1831. This happened a few years after the Georgia Gold Rush began.
Why Was This Lottery Special?
This lottery was different because it focused on land where gold had been found. The law said that about one-third of the land districts from an earlier lottery (the sixth land lottery) would be set aside. These special areas were called "gold districts." Each gold district was about 40 acres in size. They were given away in their own separate lottery.
When Did the Lottery Happen?
The drawings for the Gold Lottery of 1832 took place between October 22, 1832, and May 1, 1833. The land involved was all land that had been owned by the Cherokee Nation.
Who Could Participate in the Lottery?
If you won land in the lottery, you had to pay a fee of $10.00 for each lot. Many different people were allowed to enter the lottery.
Who Was Eligible?
- Single men over 18 years old who had lived in Georgia for three years and were U.S. citizens.
- Widows who had lived in Georgia for three years.
- Families of orphans who had lived in Georgia for three years and were U.S. citizens.
- Married men or male heads of families who had lived in Georgia for three years. (This three-year rule was waived for U.S. Army or Navy officers.) They also had to be U.S. citizens.
Who Was Not Allowed to Participate?
Some people were not allowed to enter the lottery. This included:
- Anyone who had already won land in a previous Georgia land lottery.
- Anyone who had mined gold, silver, or other metals in the Cherokee territory since June 1, 1830.
- Anyone who had moved into the Cherokee territory without permission.
- Anyone who had been found guilty of serious crimes in Georgia.
- Anyone who was part of a group known for dishonest activities, sometimes called the "Pony Club."
The 1833 Land Lottery
After the Gold Lottery of 1832, another lottery was held in December 1833. This was called the 1833 Land Lottery. Its purpose was to give away any land lots or smaller pieces of land from the Gold Lottery of 1832 that had not been given out.
