Introduction:
The United States is making progress in solidifying its claim as a sovereign nation. As we have seen from our Realty Time Capsule, the country has already conducted two censuses and has elected three presidents. It has even sent a military force to wage war far from its shores.
Three Key Points
1. The Creation of Ohio: On April 30, 1802, the United States Congress passed the Enabling Act of 1802. The law authorizes those living in the eastern part of the Northwest Territory to form their own state and join the union. They would go ahead and create the state of Ohio to become the 17th state of the United States of America.
Not only was the Enabling Act of 1802 important because it authorized the creation of Ohio, but it also established precedents as well as the procedures for creating new states in the future. Ohio was the first state to be created out of the Northwest Territory and it blazed the trail for many of the other states that would follow it.
2. The First Barbary War Continues: The United States continues to wage what is now known as the First Barbary War. As we have seen from the previous Time Capsule, the United States decided to go to war against Tripolitania as the latter preyed on American shipping and continued slaving of captured American nationals. The United States government refused to pay tribute to the regency and so the fight continued.
By 1802, Sweden had already ceased to fight Tripolitania which means the United States was left alone to fight the war. The U.S. would try to negotiate for peace because the two sides could not come to terms the fighting continued.
3. Washington, D.C. Becomes a City: Washington D.C. is unlike any other city in the United States. It is not part of any state, and it is directly under the jurisdiction of Congress. Plans for the federal city were laid out in 1791 and construction soon started. The seat of the United States government was moved there in 1800 but it was only in 1802 that Washington D.C. was incorporated.
As has been emphasized several times in our Time Capsule articles, designating the area now occupied by Washington D.C. as the capital of the United States automatically turned it into prime real estate. Interestingly, the capital was not built on swamplands as some historians and politicians would like people to believe. Why would George Washington, who headed the commission that was tasked with picking the site for a capital, pick swampland when there was so much space?
When Washington D.C. was incorporated, it automatically turned into one of the most important cities in the world.
Headline Real Estate News Stories in 1802
The biggest headline for 1802 regarding real estate is the creation of Ohio. Statehood is a huge draw for those wanting to settle into the territory since it would be on equal footing with the other states that are already in the union. They can count on getting the same types of benefits as citizens of the other states.
The First Barbary War was also generating headlines. It would still be several years before the United States would win a resounding victory on the other side of the world and there were a lot of doubts at the time about continuing the war.
What Historic Real Estate Events Shaped 1802?
In 1802, it was still the decision to choose Washington D.C. as the new country’s capital. Congress entrusted the choice to a three-man commission headed by George Washington who is an experienced surveyor. His choice is unsurprising because it is near his estate, and he is more than just familiar with the land.
Economic Factors, Supply, and Demand
The First Barbary War had its effects on the economy because it restricted the amount of shipping between the United States and the Old World. As such, it impacts the supply of goods imported from Europe.
Government Policies and Interventions
The Enabling Act of 1802 was the government policy from that year that had the most impact on real estate. It was the law that authorized the creation of Ohio and was the template for the creation of the other states that would follow afterward.
Demographic Factors
The population of the United States grew steadily including 1802 as would be shown in the census of 1810. There were several sources for this population growth. First, the fertility rate in the country back then was around 7. Also, there is a stream of immigrants coming from Europe who want to try their luck in the New World.
With the passing of the Naturalization Law of 1802, which made it easier for foreigners to become naturalized American citizens, there was an additional draw for Europeans to go to the New World.
The population of those who were enslaved was also a contributor to the increasing overall population of the country.
Societal Preferences and Trends
Little has changed by 1802 in terms of societal preferences. People still tend to live on farms. Most of the settlers coming from Europe came to the United States with the hope of becoming farmers of their lands.
Technological Innovations
There was no remarkable technological invention in 1802 in the United States, but it was the year that the first superintendent of the United States Patent Office, William Thornton was appointed.
Environmental Factors
Although Americans were farming the lands that they were settling, they had negligible impact on the environment. The land was simply so vast that all the changes they were making were just swallowed up in the expansive land.
Transportation and Infrastructure
One of the provisions of the Enabling Act of 1802 was that 5% of the proceeds from the sale of public lands in the state of Ohio were to be set aside for road building. That would be amended later, but it was followed for the other states admitted into the union.
This ends our Reality Time Capsule for 1802. Will 1803 be just as eventful for the country and its fledgling real estate industry? Join us and let us dive into the fascinating history of real estate in the United States.
For a deeper understanding and look into these topics check out these titles:
History of Ohio
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History of Ohio: A Captivating Guide to the People and Events That Shaped the History of the Buckeye State y by Captivating History
