Westward Expansion Overview

Georgia’s 5 Capitals Georgia has had FIVE capitals over the course of it’s history First: SAVANNAH. This served as Georgia’s colonial capital Second: AUGUSTA. This served as Georgia’s capital during the Revolutionary War to avoid the British occupying the port of Savannah. Third: LOUISVILLE. This was Georgia’s capital from 1796-1807. At the time, it was the center of Georgia’s population. Fourth: MILLEDGEVILLE. This served as Georgia’s capital during the Civil War, and was abandoned once Sherman reached Atlanta. Fifth: ATLANTA. This became Georgia’s last capital because of the access to railroads, and highest population.

The University of Georgia the greatest university of all time Georgia’s General Assembly approved the charter for the University of Georgia in January 1785. It was created because the Governor, Lyman Hall, believed that should be available to everyone, not just the wealthy.

Land Policies Headright System Land Lottery System Created to give land to men that served in the Revolutionary War Men who did not serve could also get land. Males over the age of 21 could receive up to 200 acres. Those who owned slaves, and had family were granted more. The system ended when there were to many claims and not enough land to be granted. Georgia had 8 land lotteries from the year 1805-1833. To participate you have to pay for a ticket and enter the lottery. You could buy more than one tickets based on age, marital status, and war service. Three quarters of Georgia’s land was given to 100,000 families.

Yazoo Land Fraud In 1795 the Yazoo Act was passed which sold much of the land of current day Alabama and Mississippi to four land companies for $500,000. This was due to bribes given to the General Assembly members Senator James Jackson became so upset that he returned to the state of Georgia and nullified the act. In 1802, Georgia ceded the land to the United States governments, and the US would remove the remaining creek Indians from Georgia. The land sold for 1.25 million dollars.

Indian Removal Act 1830 Dahlonega Gold Rush Andrew Jackson issued the Indian Removal Act stated for the removal of all Indians east of the Mississippi River. The Cherokee Nation of Georgia, under the direction of John Ross, made a case to the supreme court to stay on their land and own thanks to John Marshall. Worcester v. Georgia: “We are an independent state” Andrew Jackson forced their removal anyway through the Trail of Tears were 25% of the Cherokee nation died on the journey. Georgians supported the removal, and wanted the new land to settle and dig of GOLD. Gold was founded in Dahlonega, Georgia in 1828. This was the first Gold Rush in the United States.

William McIntosh & the Creek Removal William McIntosh was a Creek chief who had a Scottish father and a Creek mother. McIntosh encouraged the Creek to move toward more agriculture production and slaveholding. This is was not taking very well by the Creeks. In Spring 1865, McIntosh, and 6 other chiefs, sold the remainder of the Creek land to Georgia for $200,000 without tribal consent. The Creek nation responded by killing McIntosh.

The History of the Cotton Gin

Technological Advances Cotton Gin Railroad Greatly expanded Georgia’s economy Also cause the expansion of slavery Invented by Eli Whitney This machine could “clean” 50 pounds of cotton da day. This caused Georgia's and the rest of the south to transition away from tobacco. Negative Effects? Railroads were mainly used for transporting raw goods, mostly cotton. The road condition were extremely poor. Georgia had the most railroad if the entire south, and in the top ten for the United States.