Sep 7, 2008

Salem on History | Fletcher v. Peck

At a glance:

Series: Great Events from History: North American Series
Categories: Economics, Land Acquisition and Expansion, Territory Redistribution, Law, Legal History, Courts
Subcategories: Court Cases, Rulings, Appeals, Supreme Court, U.S.
Curriculum: American Indian History, American Early National History (1789-1815)
Geographical Location: Washington, D.C.
Date: March 16, 1810

Article abstract: The U.S. Supreme Court expands the idea of the sanctity of contracts as expressed in the Constitution.

Summary of Event

While it is axiomatic that many of the cases from which great constitutional principles are derived have sordid backgrounds, few if any have emerged from such comic-opera corruption as Fletcher v. Peck. On January 7, 1795, the Georgia legislature passed a bill permitting the sale of some thirty-five million acres of fertile, well-watered land for five hundred thousand dollars, payable over a five-year period....

[The entire page is 1930 words long]

Salem on History | Fletcher v. Peck

At a glance:

Summary of Event

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