Georgia History Overview

University of Georgia

• Founded in 1785 by the Georgia General Assembly.
• First president: Abraham Baldwin (1786-1801), who also participated in the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
• America's first state-chartered university for Georgians.

Land Ownership Systems in Georgia

• Headright System: White male heads of families received 200 acres of land, plus 50 acres for each family member. War veterans received more.
• Land Lottery: Replaced the headright system. Any white male U.S. citizen living in Georgia for a year and over 21 could participate in a lottery to win land.

Georgia's Capital City

• Moved from coastal areas to northwestern and central Georgia (1796-1807).
• Selection based on population centers.

Impact of Technology on Cotton Farming

• Cotton Gin (1793): Invented by Eli Whitney, significantly increased cotton production between the 1790s and 1840s.
• Western & Atlantic Railroad: Improved transportation of cotton within Georgia and to other states.

Conflicts with Native Americans

• Muscogee-Creek Indians vs. Georgia Settlers: Settlers desired Creek land for farming and slavery, leading to conflicts and forced removal.

Loss of Native American Lands

• Cherokees: A sovereign nation that attempted to integrate European culture (schools, churches, government) to maintain land rights.
• Chief John Ross: Wanted peaceful land cession, but was murdered by the Creek.
• Chief William McIntosh: Forced cession treaty and subsequent execution.

Government Actions Affecting Cherokees

• Judicial Branch (Worcester v. Georgia, 1832): Supreme Court Justice John Marshall ruled in favor of Cherokee sovereignty and land rights.
• Executive Branch (Andrew Jackson): President Jackson ignored the Supreme Court's ruling and signed the Indian Removal Act (1830), forcing Cherokees from Georgia to Oklahoma.

Gold Discovery in Georgia

• Gold discovery negatively impacted Cherokee land claims due to forced removal.

Trail of Tears

• Forced removal of the Cherokee in 1838-1839.
• Thousands of Cherokees died due to forced marches and harsh conditions.

Westward Expansion

• Movement of Americans west of the Appalachian Mountains, largely driven by the idea of Manifest Destiny.
• Expansion involved acquiring territory like the Louisiana Purchase.
• Westward expansion was encouraged by George Washington's presidency, and Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase.