Final answer:
The question does not reference any specific figure or law mandating the redistribution of land over 30 acres to the poor. However, American history does exhibit movements and legislation aiming to provide land to average citizens and assist those in economic distress, as seen in Shays' Rebellion and various land acts.
Step-by-step explanation:
No specific historical figure or law explicitly sought to pass legislation that required citizens owning more than 30 acres of land to relinquish it to the state for the poor. However, throughout American history, there have been various land laws and policies, as well as social movements, aimed at redistributing land or aiding economically distressed citizens. For example, during Shays' Rebellion in 1786, impoverished farmers in Massachusetts, led by Daniel Shays, demanded debt relief and economic reforms, reflecting the struggles of average citizens to hold on to their land. Additionally, during Reconstruction, there were discussions among Radical Republicans about redistributing Southern land to former slaves, but President Johnson opposed this, and much of the confiscated land was returned to its previous owners.
Land legislation like the Ordinance of 1785 and various Homestead Acts allowed ordinary citizens, including settlers and farmers, to purchase land at reasonable prices. The grid system of land division and public auctions made it possible for more people to own land, which was seen as essential for a republican society by thinkers like Thomas Jefferson. As suggested by the Relief Act of 1821 and various state foreclosure prevention laws, the government occasionally intervened to assist those struggling with land ownership. Meanwhile, tax grievances and economic inequality prompted calls for more equitable distribution and fiscal policies.