Georgia

Max Romanello and Christopher D’Erasmo ** __ Georgia __ ** Georgia was one of the 13 original colonies founded by Great Britain in the new world, and was one of 5 southern colonies. Georgia was the last of the colonies founded in America. Georgia was founded by James Edward Oglethorpe in 1733 in Savannah. www.georgia.gov ** __ Geography  __ ** Georgia is the southern most colony. It is located 81 degrees to 85 degrees west and 30 degrees to 35 degrees north. It borders Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, and the Atlantic Ocean. The average temperature in Georgia during the summer is 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. Rainfall in Georgia averages between 50 and 60 inches. Snow is uncommon but still appears rarely in the northern regions of Georgia. There are mountains to the north, and farmland in the middle and southern regions. Major rivers include Chattahoochee, Savannah, Coosa, and the Ocmulgee rivers. The mountains to the north of Georgia are the Brasstown Bald Mountain, and the Blue Ridge mountains. During the time of the Revolutionary war the two main ports in Georgia were the Port of Brunswick, and the Port of Savannah. Georgia had great conditions for growing cash crops such as tobacco with its mostly flat land, and fair amounts of rain. Georgia’s geography made the colonists turn to farming to make a profit in trading, especially with tobacco. It also allowed the colonists to spread out throughout the colony instead of being confined to the coast thanks to its flatlands. www.georgia.gov ** __ History  __ ** The first to colonize Georgia came in 1733 and created the town of Savannah along the Savannah River. It was colonized by James Edward Oglethorpe and 114 other colonists. They came from England but later other pilgrims came from countries such as Germany and Spain. They came to Georgia to start a new life and leave the struggling in Europe behind them. Most of whom had high amounts of debt. They came for economic reasons such as debt. There were no political reasons but later on people came for religious reasons. When the colonists first arrived they met the Native Americans in the region. They were the Yamacraw Indians. [|http://icgalegroup.com] “History of the United States of America”, by Henry William Elson, the Macmillan Company, New York, 1904. Chapter IV. Transcribed by Cathy Leigh [|www.usHistory.info] ** __ Economics  __ ** Each settler had to farm their small portion of land, and they had to build their own town. The colonists traded with the Indians giving them objects from Europe and the colonists gave England tobacco. At first there was no slavery in Georgia however as time passed slavery became accepted. Edward J. Cashin, Augusta State University. [|www.georgiaencyclopedia.org] ** __ Social  __ ** The main language spoken in Georgia was English however there was some German spoken when the Germans arrived. The colonists of Georgia were Protestant with other colonists being of other catholic religions. The women’s role in the society of Georgia was to stay at home and take care of the children and the house, for they could not get jobs like men could at that time. [|www.georgia.gov] ** __ Political  __ ** The colony of Georgia was given a royal charter by the king to establish the colony of Georgia which was named after King George II for he was the one who granted the charter. Georgia also established a royal government with James Oglethorpe as the governor. [|www.georgia.gov] ** __ Terms  __ ** Triangle Trade- Georgia traded tobacco with England and bought slaves from Africa to work on their plantations. Salutary Neglect- Georgia secretly traded with other countries such as France and Spain. Mercantilism- When Georgia became an official colony it could only trade with England. Great Awakening- Georgia started to get annoyed with only getting to trade with England. Cash Crop- Georgia’s cash crop at the time was tobacco. [|www.georgia.gov] ** __ French and Indian War  __ ** Georgia had very little to no involvement in the French and Indian war. There were no specific battles within Georgia or involving Georgia at this time. However Georgia still had to feel the effects after the war, Georgia (like the other colonies) got hit with a raise in taxes to help pay for the war costs and damages. The colonists of Georgia were outraged that they had to pay for a war that they weren’t even involved in. This caused a rise in patriots in Georgia making the number of loyalists in the colony drop to very few. However despite the vast number of patriots in Georgia the colonists did not fully support the ideas of the revolution, and wouldn’t until 1776. [|www.georgia.gov] ** __ Revolutionary War  __ ** During the revolutionary war there were no military leaders that came from Georgia. Georgia declared itself independent of Britain by signing the declaration of Independence and forming a militia to fight Britain. Georgia fought the British in several battles near the coast and marshlands. These battles were the Battle of Kettle Creek, Augusta, Burke Courthouse, Briar Creek, Savannah, Sunbury-Fort Morris, and Fort Mclntosh. The battle of Kettle Creek took place on February 14th, 1779 and was won by the colonists. Fort Augusta was captured by the British in 1779 and changed hands twice before being recaptured by patriots in 1781. The Battle of Burke took place in 1779 and was won by the colonists. On March 3rd, 1779 at the Battle of Briar Creek the British were victorious over the colonists. During the Battle of Savannah from September 16th through October 9th, 1779 the colonists laid siege to the town of Savannah. On October 9th the colonists pressed their assault on Savannah in what would become the bloodiest hours of the war. By the end of the day, thousands of colonists lay dead while the rest retreated. On January 9th, 1779 the British were able to capture Fort Marius. At Fort Mclntosh on February 2nd through 4th, 1777 the British overwhelmed the colonists and took the Fort. After the revolution towns had to be rebuilt, the new state was in debt and entire generations were dead. The state of Georgia supported the Constitution when it was created. [|www.georgia.gov] ** __ Bibliography  __ ** [|www.georgia.gov] [|http://icgalegroup.com] Edward J. Cashin, Augusta State University. [|www.georgiaencyclopedia.org] “History of the United States of America”, by Henry William Elson, the Macmillan company, New York, 1904. Chapter IV. Transcribed by Cathy Leigh [|www.usHistory.info]