Jackson Purchase (U.S. historical region) facts for kids
The Jackson Purchase is a special area of land in the western part of Tennessee and the southwestern part of Kentucky. It's bordered by the Tennessee River on the east, the Ohio River on the north, and the Mississippi River on the west. This land was given to the United States by the Chickasaw People in 1818.
How the Land Was Acquired
This land became part of the United States after many talks with the Chickasaw Native American tribe. Two important people from the United States, Andrew Jackson and Isaac Shelby, led these discussions. Andrew Jackson later became a U.S. President.
The Chickasaw people were represented by their wise leaders and warriors. Some of these leaders included Levi Colbert, his brother George Colbert, Chinubby, and Tishomingo.
On October 19, 1818, both sides agreed to transfer the land. They signed a document called the Treaty of Tuscaloosa. The United States agreed to pay the Chickasaw people $300,000. This payment was made in yearly amounts of $20,000 for 15 years. In return, the United States gained control of all Chickasaw land east of the Mississippi River. This land was also north of the new state of Mississippi.
Treaty Approval
The Treaty of Tuscaloosa had to be officially approved. The United States Senate voted to approve it. Then, President James Monroe confirmed the treaty on January 7, 1819. This made the agreement official and legal.
What It's Called Today
Today, when people talk about the "Jackson Purchase", they usually mean only the part of this land that is in the state of Kentucky. The part of the original land that is in Tennessee is known by a different name. It is called "West Tennessee".
