Question

Which of these was the BIGGEST disadvantage for settlers wanting to take advantage of the opportunities created by the Land Ordinance of 1785? A) The Great Plains were an "alien environment" to many of the settlers. B) Land speculators were most able to purchase land in the affected areas. C) They had to cross the Rocky Mountains in order to have access to the lands. D) War with Great Britain meant that traveling to the area was extremely dangerous.

Answer 1

Answer: B) Land speculators were most able to purchase land in the affected areas.

Explanation: A major disadvantage of the Land Ordinance of 1785- for the average settler, anyway- was price. Because of the price of the land, speculators were MOST able to purchase land in the affected areas. The average settler who wanted to start a new life farming the land was rarely able to pay the minimum price for a piece of land at that time. The price was around $640 for an entire plot, which worked out to well over $10,000, when adjusted for inflation. The result: land speculators snapped up the best land, then either resold it to others or developed businesses there.

Answer 2

B) Land speculators were most able to purchase land in the affected areas.

Step-by-step explanation:

In 1784-1785, the Continental Congress discussed and adopted the first land ordinance, a draft of which was prepared by Jefferson, although the final approval of the ordinance was carried out in his absence. Amendments were made that belittled the Jefferson project, its democratic orientation. Particularly unfavorable was the condition that land can be sold in 640 acre plots at a minimum price per acre of $1. The purchase of such a site was available only to planters or land speculators.