"Map of the United States of America", Carey, Mathew

This is a handsome map of the young United States that extends just beyond the Mississippi River. The mid-western territories are a bit misaligned with the northern boundaries of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois on the same latitude, and Indiana shown directly below Lake Michigan. The boundary between Mississippi Territory and Georgia follows the Chattahoochee River and the Yazoo Speculation is noted in Mississippi. West of the Mississippi River is a large Missouri Territory stretching northwards from Louisiana. Major roads with distances, proposed canals, cities, forts, and Indian villages are among the interesting details illustrated on the map.

A notation of Yazoo Speculation refers to the Yazoo Land Fraud perpetrated in 1789-1796 when the region was part of Georgia Territory. Three companies bribed and intimidated a bill through the Georgia assembly that allowed them to purchase millions of acres of land for next to nothing, resulting in a huge public outcry. The bill's supporters were swiftly voted out of power, and Senator James Jackson took office. He vowed to repeal the Yazoo Act if it cost him his life, saying he would repeal it even if he had to shoot everyone involved in passing it. He didn't have to shoot anyone, and the law was rescinded in 1796. The fact it is shown on a map produced many years later attests to the importance attributed to this fraudulent scheme.

References: Phillips (A) #722-5.

Condition: B+

Original outline color, lightly toned with some minor offsetting.