V00E_25- The Colonial Land System and the Building of America

This course explores how land grants and military tracts brought order to the Colonial wilderness, shaping the future of the country. Students will learn about the equipment and methods used in these surveys and delve into the roles of founding fathers who were also surveyors. The course will highlight how knowledge of the land empowered Colonial leaders and the prominent role surveyors played in society. Additionally, it will examine the mathematical and scientific training that set surveyors apart from the farming culture of the time. Finally, students will discover how the work and culture of Colonial surveyors continue to influence modern practices.

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• • Identify key equipment and methods used by Colonial surveyors.
  • Explain the significance of land grants and military tracts in shaping the country.
  • Discuss how knowledge of the land was used by Colonial leader.
  • Compare the training of surveyors to that of the farming culture of the time.
  • Assess the impact of Colonial surveyors on modern surveying practices.