DSG - Significant Georgia Establishments (Lesson)
Significant Georgia Establishments
Introduction
Georgia experienced tremendous population growth after the American Revolution. During this growth they began to make key changes to the establishments of Georgia. From 1789-1840, the capital of Georgia moved from Augusta to Louisville, and then Milledgeville. Georgia also invested in the educational future by establishing the University of Georgia. The greatest change was the influx of Baptists and Methodists to the region. New churches will begin to flourish and see a massive growth of attendance during these key developmental years.
University of Georgia
Georgia’s leadership after the revolution, showed a key interest in education. In 1784, the General Assembly set aside 40,000 acres of land for the University of Georgia. Abraham Baldwin (Remember he was a key negotiator of the US Constitution.) wrote the university’s charter in 1785. He specifically stated that all people, not just the wealthy, had a right to an education. UGA was the first public university in the nation and set the tone for the American system of public colleges and universities that we have today. Previously, universities had consisted of expensive private colleges, which were out of reach due to financial reasons for the majority of Americans. The university began construction in 1801 next to the Oconee River thanks to a donation from John Milledge. The original 40,000 acres were not used.
Georgia's Capital
Augusta had become Georgia’s capital during the American Revolution but Georgia felt the capital needed a more central location. The commission looked to move the new capital to an old trading post called “Galphinton”; but instead they named the new city Louisville in honor of King Louis XVI of France who helped during the Revolutionary War. Louisville did well economically, focusing on the growth of cotton and tobacco. By the end of the 1790s the city was booming, but then it was hit with malaria and the trade begin to diminish because of lack of railways. Ultimately the capital relocated to Louisville in 1796, but the capital was moved once again to Milledgeville in 1806.
Georgia's capital moved several times as population spread out throughout the frontier. Can you put these Georgia capitals in order from first to last?
- Atlanta
- Augusta
- Louisville
- Milledgeville
- Savannah
Think you know the correct order? Check the very bottom of this page (under the photo credits) to find out!
Religions in Georgia
Methodists
Most Georgians were members of the Anglican Church, the Church of England, before the Revolutionary War. After the war many of the priests had fled the colony back to England. Many churches were damaged or destroyed during the war as well. Anglican members, who felt patriotic ties did not flee but instead developed the Methodist Church after the American Revolution. The Methodist Church held tent revivals, outdoor meetings, to encourage the growth of their faith.
Episcopalians
Many former Anglicans did not want to separate completely and move into the Methodist faith. They established the Protestant Episcopal Church to separate from the Church of England’s Anglican faith. They did not want to give up their British religion, but did need to separate the King of England as the head of their church. Establishing the Episcopalian Church allowed their faith to remain the same, while removing their English ties.
Baptists
The Baptist Church was already well established throughout the region. In 1783, Governor Lyman Hall requested citizens rebuild their churches. The state experienced tremendous growth of the Baptist and Methodist faiths. The Georgia Baptist Association separated from their South Carolina ties and expanded through the Georgia Baptist movement focusing on the growth of the religion in the state.
Notable Georgians
Chief John Ross: Ross was the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1827 after the Cherokees established a governmental structure much like the government of the United States. (They believed—incorrectly— that assimilating with the United States would satisfy the white Americans and they could all live together peacefully.) Chief Ross supervised the development of the Cherokee Nation, went with the Cherokees on the Trail of Tears and presided over their settlement in Oklahoma.
Eli Whitney: Whitney was a tutor and only lived in Georgia for a brief period; but while he lived here, he invented the cotton gin (short for ‘cotton engine’) in 1793. The machine made cleaning the seeds from the cotton much faster and easier than cleaning it by hand. The increased efficiency made cotton planting much more profitable since an enslaved person could clean 5 pounds of cotton a day by hand or 55 pounds of cotton a day with a cotton gin. More clean cotton equaled more money for the planter. This increased profitability resulted in the expansion of cotton cultivation in the Deep South which then led to the expansion of slavery since more people were needed to clean more cotton.
Review
Review what you've learned by completing the activity below.
Many students will be attending college through our University System of Georgia. Take some time to check out the article below to understand the progression of the University System and how it will affect your future.
PORTRAITS COURTESY OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION. ALL OTHER IMAGES CREATED BY GAVS
GEORGIA'S CAPITALS TEST YOURSELF ANSWER: From first to last: Savannah, Augusta, Louisville, Milledgeville, Atlanta