The Development of Georgia

1. The Development of Georgia 1789-1840

2. 1784 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.

3. New Capital • 1786 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.

4. Religion in Georgia • The 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.

5. Land in Georgia • There 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.

6. Land in Georgia Lotteries- 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.

7. Cotton Gin

8. “Cotton Kingdom” • The 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.

9. Cotton in Georgia • Sea 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 day • After the gin- 1 person could cull 50 pounds per day.

10. Georgia & Cotton • By 1825 Georgia leads the world in cotton production. • By 1860 44% (462,200) of the Georgia population are slaves. Georgia Census 1750-500 slaves 1775-18,000 1790-29,300 1800-59,700 1820-148,700 1840-280,900 1860-462,200

11. Impact on Georgia • Slavery and the increase in cotton production impacts everything in the South. • Economy, population increase, labor, politics, the judicial system, religion.

12. Impact on Georgia • Cotton 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.

13. Railroads

14. Railroads in Georgia • Key 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.