GENESIS OF AGRARIANISM IN THE U. S. 99 



in common, in which all members enjoyed pasturage 

 and timber rights. The effect of the New England 

 system was to bestow fee simple title on small 

 farmers, who cultivated the land they owned with 

 the assistance of members of their families. 



One result of the Revolution was the transfer of 

 the rights in the land held by the Crown to the 

 American people. The unclaimed portions within 

 the several states came to be subject to State 

 authority. In addition to the public domain within 

 the territory of the thirteen original colonies, there 

 was a vast domain extending west of the Alle- 

 ghenies to the Mississippi River. Virginia, North 

 Carolina, Georgia, Connecticut, and Massachusetts 

 were the principal claimants to this area. This land 

 was finally (1784-1808) ceded to the United States 

 and was made subject to disposal by the federal 

 government. 



The land policies of the United States have had 

 far-reaching political, economic, and social conse- 

 quences. Many aspects of agrarianism are directly 

 traceable to the effects of these policies upon agri- 

 cultural welfare. 



Agrarian Protests in Colonial Times 



Colonization policies in the New World brought 

 agrarian conflicts from time to time in almost every 

 province. Charter rights were frequently the basis 

 of the conflicts between the proprietors or royal 

 governors and the colonists. The spirit of self- 



