This document details the complex history of land acquisition and distribution in Georgia, particularly focusing on the territory that would become Berrien County. Initially, Georgia claimed vast lands from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River, often overlapping with Native American claims. This led to early controversies like the 1795 Yazoo land fraud, where 35 million acres were controversially sold for a mere $500,000, eventually leading to its repeal and federal intervention. A major turning point was the Red Stick War (1813-1814) between Creek factions and American forces, culminating in General Andrew Jackson's victory at Horseshoe Bend and the Treaty of Fort Jackson, which forced the Creek Nation to cede nearly 22 million acres to the United States. This massive land acquisition was primarily distributed through a series of Georgia Land Lotteries, allowing "fortunate drawers" to purchase lots, though most did not homestead but rather sold their prizes, leading to a vibrant land office business. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 and subsequent smaller conflicts like the Battle of Brushy Creek further solidified white settlement. Initially, much of this land was virgin timber, but the late 1890s saw a boom in turpentining and lumbering, which drastically cleared the forests by 1930, followed by cash crops like cotton and tobacco, profoundly transforming the landscape and economy of Berrien County.

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