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Colony Founded
James Oglethrope founded the then British colony of Georgia. With 116 colonist, he marched to the coast of Georgia and established what we know today as Savannah. This was important to Georgia history because it was the origination of the state itself. Georgia was the last of the 13 colonies to be founded. -
Battle of Bloody Marsh
The Battle of Bloody Marsh was a war fought between the Spanish and British forces. The name came from its location which was on St. Thomas island. This event is important to Georgia history because it was the only time the Spanish attempted to invaded the state. -
Empress of the Creeks
Mary Musgrove coins herself Empress of the Creeks. In her effort to collect money for services rendered and push the whites from Georgia she marched on Savannah during the War of Jenkins' Ear. I find this important because she was the first woman to rage war. -
Georgia Gazette
The Georgia Gazette, the first newspaper in Georgia, began publication. This publication was important to Georgia history because it was a form of communication and voice for the colonists. It was an information source. -
Independence
Georgia joined and signed the Declaration of Independence. Independence was declared and the state was no longer a colony. This event is important because it is the day the state became free from British rule. (1775 Revolutionary War/ US History) -
Siege of Savannah
Also known as The Second Battle of Savannah, The Siege of Savannah was the French and American attempt to capture Savannah from the British. It was a failure however and resulted in the British capturing Charleston. This event hold importance because it is said to be the 2nd most bloodiest was of the Revolution. -
University of Georgia
University of Georgia was chartered and established. It was the first university in America created by a government and helped paved the way for higher education. -
Constitution
Georgia ratifies the Constitution and becomes the 4th state to join the Union.The Constitution was later revised through a continental convention to ensure conformity. This event is important because it lead to the creation of the Constitution of 1789. -
Yazoo Land Fraud
The Yazoo Land Fraud was a scheme used to get legislatures to sell their land. Governor Matthews signed the Yazoo Act, which allowed four companies in particular to receive western territory and pay the sum of 500,000 for the land which was far below market value. This event is important to Georgia history because it led to political outrage and the landmark Supreme Court decision in Fletcher v. Pack. (Missouri Compromise 1820) -
An Act
Signed by Thomas Jefferson, the house and senate approved a bill called an Act that prohibited slave importation. Georgia was no longer allowed the import of slaves. The Act imposed penalties but did not end slavery or the sales of slaves. This was important to Georgia history because Georgia was still participating in slave trade and the Act aided in ending it. (Jan. 1, 1808 US bans all importation of slaves) -
Gold Rush
Gold is found in the northern counties of Dahlonega and Helen. The state became flooded with people looking to strike it rich. The rush spread throughout the state and led to the Cherokees being driven from their lands. This event is important to Georgia history because it served as a path to industrialism. (Tennessee Gold Rush, 1827) -
Trail of Tears
The US government forced more than 16,000 Cherokee Indians to migrate west to Oklahoma. Hundreds of lives were lost due to the strain of the trip and a result of relocation. It became known as the Trail of Tears to symbolize the lost and pain the Indians suffered on the journey. This event is important to Georgia history because it aided in the enactment of Indian Removal Act of 1830. -
Georgia Platform
Southerners and northerners bumped heads over slavery protection laws. The platform helped to establish the state's acceptance of the Compromise and was a collaboration between Whigs and Democrats. The North was to comply with the Fugitive Slave Act and discontinue expansion of slavery into new territory as part of the agreement. This event is important to Georgia history because it aided in the tensions and disagreements over slavery that lead to the start of the Civil War. (Compromise of 1850) -
Battle of Chickamauga
War between Union and Confederacy during the American Civil War. The two were in battle over control of the key railroad center. The battle took place in Walker and Catoosa County and was named after the Chickamauga Creek. It led to a Union defeat and is important to the state's history because it was the first major battle fought in the state and the largest Confederate victory in the Western Theater. (Battle of Gettysburg, 1863) -
March to Sea
General Sherman led about 60,000 soldiers on a march from Atlanta to Savannah. He destroyed everything and anyone who was in support of the Confederacy in an attempt to rage fear among the Georgia civilians. Sherman's method to destroy the supply line of the Confederate proved victorious and the city was captured on Sept. 2, 1864. This event is important to the state's history because it introduced a new method of war that had not been seen or attempted. (Siege of Petersburg, 1864-65) -
14th Amendment
Georgia had initially rejected the 14th Amendment but ratified it on July 21, 1868. Former Confederate states had to ratify the Amendment before they could be represented in Congress. This event was important to history because it gave citizens the right to vote and aided in the decision of cases such as Brown vs. Board of Education. (The Ten Years' War 1868-1878) -
Union Admittance
Georgia was readmitted to the Union on July 15, 1870. In order to be readmitted, the state agreed to seat black members in the Legislature which was something they were initially not willing to do. This was important to the history of the state because it was the first time blacks would be represented in Congress. (US Department of Justice is established July 1, 1870) -
Capital City
The Constitutional Convention voted to move the capital to Atlanta from Milliedgeville. Atlanta becomes capital city of Georgia on December 5, 1877. The vote is 99,147 to 55,201. This event is important because it signifies the start of a booming economy and tourism site for the state. (Spanish American War, 1890) -
Institute of Technology
The Georgia School of Technology is established and opened in 1888 after the construction of Tech Tower and offered only a mechanical engineering degree. By the year 1901 degrees were being offered in electrical, civil, and chemical engineering. The name was changed in 1948 to the Georgia Institute of Technology to reflect its evolution. This event is important because it is the start of technological education and advancements in the field. (February 2, 1887 First Groundhog Day is observed.) -
Jim Crow
Jim Crow laws enacted in Georgia. Georgia passed 27 Jim Crow laws that added to segregation and mistreatment of nonwhites. This event was important to history because it helped fuel tensions that would lead to the Atlanta Race Riot. (Separate Car Law of Louisiana 1890) -
Atlanta Race Riot
The Atlanta Race Riot was a riot that broke out in downtown Atlanta that aided in the destruction of blacks and their businesses. The white supremacist groups did not like the idea of blacks prospering and along with false allegations of rape and assaults on white women by blacks decided to seek revenge. For four days African Americans were assaulted and attacked without merit. This was important because it contributed to the statewide prohibition and Black suffrage restriction. (Pig War, 1906) -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Declared the separate but equal doctrine unconstitutional. -
Bus Desegregation in Atlanta
African Americans in Georgia became involved in the fight against segregation. A group of ministers launched the Love, Law, and Liberation Movement to desegregate Atlanta's city buses. This was important because it showed the will and determination of the blacks to be treated fairly. (Montgomery Bus Boycott, 1956) -
I Have a Dream Speech
Dr. Martin Luther King a prominent member of the Civil Rights Movement delivers his famous speech asking for equality. This is important because it shows the support system the African Americans had and the goal they were trying to attain. -
Civil Rights Act
In 1964, Congress passed Public Law 88-352. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark civil rights and labor law that outlaws discrimination based on things such as race, color, sex, religion. This is important because it allows all citizens of the state to be treated fairly and receive the same opportunities. (President Johnson declares "War on Poverty" 1964)