The Development of Georgia

1789-1840The Development of Georgia1784 The General Assembly set aside forty thousand acres to establish a place for learning.Abraham Baldwin wrote the charter and the legislature approved it in 1785.1799 Georgia legislatures chose 633 acres along the Oconee River in Athens, Georgia to build the college.It was first named Franklin College after Ben Franklin, and was the first state-supported college in the nation.

New Capital1786 The Georgia Assembly moved the state capital to Louisville, located between the two previous capitals (Savannah and Augusta).They believed this site was a good compromise between western settlers and coastal planters.After an outbreak of malaria and western expansion by settlers, the capital was again moved to Milledgeville in 1804 and remained here until 1868.Religion in GeorgiaThe two religious groups that impacted Georgia the most were the Baptists and the Methodists.Reason: Both grew rapidly because they used new methods to reach out to people.Baptists and Methodists allowed for more freedom to the local congregations and non ordained leaders.Both reached out to the rural people living in the countryside.The Methodists used circuit riders who would travel the countryside on horseback preaching at different communities.Land in GeorgiaThere were many land disputes in Georgia especially with Tories and Patriots.The Georgia Assembly took land from many loyalists who eventually left Georgia, and also Indian land.Headright System- white males who were considered the head of the household were granted the right to a certain amount of land.These land owners had to show production of their land.Land in GeorgiaLotteries- land lotteries were started in 1803-1833. It allowed for certain Georgians to buy chances to win the right to buy land.The lottery was based on a persons place in society.Example: war veterans, widows usually had more chances.Georgia sold thousands of acres based on the land lottery system.Cotton Gin

Cotton KingdomThe invention of the cotton gin enabled the seed to be separated much faster than before.By speeding up this process, the cotton gin increased the production and sale.The increase in cotton production called for more slaves.At this same time, the War of 1812 also led to increased cotton production.Cotton becomes the new cash crop of the South.Cotton in GeorgiaSea Island/Long Staple cotton- was a high quality Egyptian Cotton that was silky and long.The new cotton short staple cotton was a much hardier variety of cotton that could grow in the Southern climate.1 disadvantage- it had more seeds.Before the cotton gin- 2 to 3 pounds per dayAfter the gin- 1 person could cull 50 pounds per day.Georgia & CottonBy 1825 Georgia leads the world in cotton production.By 1860 44% (462,200) of the Georgia population are slaves.Georgia Census1750-500 slaves1775-18,000 1790-29,3001800-59,7001820-148,7001840-280,9001860-462,200Impact on GeorgiaSlavery and the increase in cotton production impacts everything in the South.Economy, population increase, labor, politics, the judicial system, religion.

Impact on GeorgiaCotton production led Southern business men to build more textile mills.Eventually the growth of mills, agricultural industries, and railroads led to other new industries as well, such as banking and insurance.

Railroads

Railroads in GeorgiaKey invention to impact Georgia was the railroad.Competition with South Carolina railroads caused Georgia businessmen to build railroad in Georgia.* Railroads meant that farmers could transport their products faster and easier. *By 1860 Georgia had the most sophisticated railroad in the South.Terminus and then Marthasville was a railroad hub that became Atlanta.