GENESIS OF AGRARIANISM IN THE U. S. 97 



Land Tenure Policies 



The influence of feudal tenure is clearly discernible 

 in the early land policies of the English colonies. 

 It was to be expected that the feudal system in Eng- 

 land would exert an influence on the land tenure 

 policies in the New World. 



The accepted theory which prevailed in England 

 was that the title to the land in America was vested 

 in the Crown. Indian titles to the land occupied by 

 the several tribes were never recognized. The title 

 passed directly from the King or Queen to pro- 

 prietors who disposed of it as they saw fit, subject 

 only to charter provisions. The process of disposing 

 of land in the Crown colonies was through agents to 

 actual settlers under the laws or decrees of the 

 English government. 



It is significant that considerable variety developed 

 in the land systems of the Colonies. These differ- 

 ences were very marked in the case of the northern 

 and southern colonies. The plantation system be- 

 came the prevailing type in the southern colonies. 

 The vast estates came to be cultivated by indentured 

 servants and slaves. In the North the typical farms 

 were small. They were cultivated by the farmer, 

 assisted by the members of his family. Sometimes 

 servants or hired laborers were employed to assist 

 in the farm work. The difference in the two systems 

 was essentially one of soil and climate, but in Vir- 

 ginia the indifferent administration of land laws 



