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Apr 2, 1513
April 2, 1513 - Juan Ponce DeLeon
Juan Ponce DeLeon establishes the 1st colony in what's now the United States (St. Augustine, Florida). This event marked the significance of the 1493 expedition with Columbus where DeLeon found a new land and dubbed it “La Florida”. I included this event because it is important to note that DeLeon did not find the fountain of youth. Soi that is a bit of a disappointment -
Sep 29, 1526
September 29 1526: San Miguel de Gualdape
the first Spanish colony on mainland America that was established by Lucas Vazques de Ayllon. This colony was named after the Guale Indians and located near Sapelo Sound in present-day Georgia and South Carolina. Ayllón's colony is one of the earliest European attempts to establish a permanent settlement in the Americas. Ayllon’s colony set a precedent for other European powers to establish their own colonies in the New World. -
1540
March 1540 De Soto and his Men
the Spanish journeyed through the present-day states of Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. During the expedition they came into conflict with the indigenous Americans that lived in that area one of the tribes was the Atahachi tribe. The Indians set fire to most of the expedition's supplies, resulting in the loss of nearly twenty men. The entrada continued their march and established a winter camp inside what is now the state of Mississippi. -
1566
1566 The Forts on St. Catherine’s island:
The first forts constructed along the Atlantic coast were one of the earliest ones being erected in Georgia on St. Catherine’s Island. However, these settlements were not permanent. These first were strategic in defense against Native Americans and other European rivals. These forts were the first attempt at establishing a permanent presence as well as a territorial dominance in the New World. -
December 20, 1606 - Virginia Company
Virginia Company settlers left London to establish the first permanent English settlement in North America. This event is significant because it is the British Colonies first efforts to colonize the new world in an arena where colonization was the game, but also religious tolerance, and freedom from monarchical tyranny. They did eventually find gold. But no fountain of youth, not that they were looking for it. -
May 14, 1607 - First permanent English settlement
First settlement established in Jamestown, Virginia. Obviously, this is important because this was the first permanent English settlement in the New World. The most important takeaway from this event is that John Smith who played a key role in the founding of Jamestown is a lair and a fraud. He was never saved by Pocahontas, and she never loved him. Some historians believed he may have actually raped her. I just wanted to give my two cents on John Smith, that is why I picked this event. -
Dec. 25 1733: Molasses Act
The Molasses Act is passed by Parliament in an effort to sabotage US trade abroad by impeding trade with the French West Indies. The colonists used smuggling to get around this law. -
January 9 1735: Three laws enacted for Georgia under Trustee rule:
Laws had to be enacted by parliament and signed by the King. The Trustees could only suggest laws. I found this event in history to be important for three reasons. govern and manage the third law was crucial in regulating and controlling trade relations between the colonists and the Native Americans. Outlawing rum was passed to keep colonists from getting intoxicated and wreaking havoc on society. Banishing slavery in order to create free labor and small-scale farming. -
Gregorian Calendar
The new style Gregorian calendar replaces the old style Julian calendar in the British Empire. Wednesday September 2, is followed by Thursday September 14. New Years Day is moved from March 25, to January 1. The significance of this event is that by converting to the Gregorian Calendar allowed for alignment with western Europe who had switched to Pope Gregory XIII new calendar that addressed the inaccuracies of the Julian Calendar. -
September 2, 1752 - Britain and the colonies under its control adopt the Gregorian calendar.
I mention this event because it was important for the British Empire to be like their European neighbors and synchronize their timeline with other nations. -
March 22 1765: Stamp Act passed
All paper goods were subject to this levy, but it backfired when colonists gathered into mobs and used violence to threaten stamp collectors. In Savannah, Georgia, one stamp master was executed in effigy. -
November 1, 1765 - Stamp Act
Before the Stamp Act went into effect in Georgia, there were no official notices, stamp masters, or stamps. Wright, however, acknowledged the stamp absence, closed courts, and allowed ships to depart without stamps because he was in a position of authority. Like other colonies, Georgia symbolically refused to produce stamps in protest of what they saw as exorbitant British taxes and rights breaches, reflecting broader colonial opposition. -
April 19, 1775 - Revolutionary War officially begins
Revolutionary War officially begins with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. This is a significant event because it represents the colonists' dissatisfaction with the British government's abuse of legal authority and imposition of taxes on them without their consent. The reason this incident—known as the "shot heard around the world"—is noteworthy is that colonists rebelled against regal rule in order to preserve their right to political, economic, and religious independence. -
April 20 1775 - The looting of Savannah
600 pounds of powder were taken from the Royal magazine in Savannah by Habersham and other members of the Council of Safety. This incident was significant because it showed how the colonies and the British administration were becoming more and more tense. This rebellion in Savannah, which took place soon after the Battle of Lexington and Concord, posed a direct threat to British military might and impeded their ability to get gunpowder, which was necessary for their defense. -
July 9, 1778 - Continental Congress approves the Articles of Confederation.
The Articles were the first written constitution of the United States. This event is important in creating the backbone of a functioning government. -
July 24, 1778- GA ratify Articles of Confederation
Georgia to ratify the Articles of Confederation. This event was important in the formation of a national government. The Articles of Confederation established the first formal structure for a national government in the United States, before the colonies were ruled and organized by the Continental Congress. The Articles of Confederation were crucial in the steps of creating a new little government here in the good old United States of America! -
December 29 1778- British Capture Savannah
British troops capture Savannah during the Revolutionary War. This success led to British control of key ports in the South. Savannah was an important city geographically speaking because it held key access to military routes. The capture not only gave the British control of the south, but it moved the war to the southern colonies. Once British gained control of Savannah it impacted the morale of the American Colonists. -
September 3, 1783 - Treaty of Paris 1783
Treaty of Paris 1783 signed by Britain and the United States, officially ending the Revolutionary War as the United States is recognized as a sovereign nation. This event is important in marking the Birth of a Nation. America is finally free from monarchical tyranny and religious persecution -
January 27 1785: UGA
The University of Georgia in the United States is chartered by the Georgia General Assembly meeting in Savannah. The first students are admitted in Athens, Georgia in 1801. I picked this event because I grew up in Athens and I thought it would be fun to mention that UGA was established in 1785. I do not have a good reason for including this event other than the fact UGA was important culturally for Goergia because of the Bulldawgs football team. -
January 2, 1788: Georgia is the 4th state to ratify the Constitution.
Georgia is the 4th state to ratify the Constitution. Georgia, one of the thirteen colonies, ratified the US Constitution on January 2, 1788, becoming the fourth state to do so; it joined the Confederacy on January 19, 1861, and re-entered the Union after the Civil War. By ratifying the constitution Georgia was essential agreeing to a stronger federal government, but then they joined the Confederacy and eventually they were let into the Union. -
March 4, 1793: George Washington sworn in as President for a 2nd term
George Washington's decision to serve two terms, driven by duty and a commitment to guide the fledgling nation through governance challenges, is significant. Despite initial reluctance due to concerns about monarchical rule, his graceful departure after the second term set a vital precedent, establishing the tradition of peaceful presidential transitions in the United States. -
March 14, 1794: Cotton Gin
Invention of the Cotton Gin. Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin completely automated the process of separating cotton seeds from the fiber, significantly influencing Georgia's economic landscape. The resulting cotton boom ushered in economic prosperity throughout the Southern colonies of Georgia. The newfound economic success facilitated a transformation in Georgia's agricultural priorities, leading to a shift from cultivating diverse crops to emphasizing monoculture. -
1809: Fletcher v. Peck comes before the US Supreme Court.
The main question in the case was whether the Supreme Court would refuse Native Americans the original property title, according to Fletcher, who felt Peck had an ambiguous land title. In the end, Fletcher prevailed. The Yazoo Land Act of 1795, which gave private companies land grants, was based on a land scam in Georgia. After a public uproar, it was repealed due to outrage. -
March 6 1810: Fletcher v. Peck
In Fletcher v. Peck, the US Supreme Court upheld Fletcher's rightful title and declared Georgia's 1795 Yazoo Act repeal to be unconstitutional. This important ruling influenced judicial review, limiting state power and preserving property rights and contract validity. State lawmakers were urged to exercise prudence as a result, which affected how they approached legislation that would face retroactive challenges and emphasized the long-term effects on laws pertaining to contracts. -
Sep. 17, 1849 - Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery
Through the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman manages to release herself from slavery. She then goes back to assist family members in achieving freedom. Tubman's historical significance is enormous because he was a well-known 19th-century humanitarian and abolitionist. Her participation in the Underground Railroad made it possible for many slaves to be freed. -
September 18,1850: Fugitive Slave Act
A new Fugitive Slave Act strengthens the 1793 act by substituting federal jurisdiction for state jurisdiction. This act was fundamental in shaping the legal and political landscape of slavery in the United States. This act set legal precedents and further divided states with opposing views of slavery. -
December 3 1860 - President Buchanan Speech
President Buchanan in his message to congress opposed the right to secede but he also stated that he had no ability to force that states that hae already declared independence back into the Union. This speech set in motion the constitutional ambiguity surrounding leaving the union and the use of force to keep them. -
January 3 1861 - Georgia seizes Fort Pulaski
Georgia seizes Fort Pulaski under the direction of Governor Joseph Brown. This event led to Georgia's secession a few weeks later. This event was significant because from 1861-1862 the fort was under Confederate control. -
January 10 1861- University of Georgia enrolls two Black students
University of Georgia enrolls two Black students, Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes, under federal court order. I know this was under a federal court order, but imagine the look of vindication Charlayn and Hamilton had when walking under the arch at UGA. -
January 19, 1861 - Georgia is the 5th state to secede from the Union.
Georgia perceived this as a crucial move to assert State's Rights, often argued as the main cause of the Civil War rather than slavery. While some insist on this perspective, evidence, such as Frederick Douglass's accounts, emphasizes the dehumanization by slave owners. This suggests that control, dehumanization, and sadistic behavior were prevalent, reflecting the toxicity of the South during that era. -
February 4, 1861 - Confederate States of America formed
This transpired into a whole new national running on the notion that they have states' rights, and the government has not authority over them. I feel this was a turning point in America's career as a nation because they were defining the constitutional authority of the federal government. -
September 22, 1862 - Emancipation Proclamation issued
This was obviously huge for a time when people were considered property. But slaves were really free. I just included this event because it was the first formal stance by the United States Government on the topic of slavery. -
April 11 1863 - Fort Pulaski, Georgia captured by Union forces
This battle was the first significant use of rifled artillery against a masonry fort. Fort Pulaski was a key point in obtaining access to strategic waterways and acts as a point of defense of the southern coastline. -
September 19-20 1863, Battle of Chickamuaga
The Chickamauga Campaign, a Union offensive in northwest Georgia and southeast Tennessee, came to a close with the Battle of Chickamuaga. Following the Battle of Gettysburg, this battle resulted in the second-highest number of Union casualties in the war and was the most devastating defeat for the Union in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. It was Georgia's first significant engagement of the war. -
November 25, 1863 - Union forces win the Battle of Chattanooga.
This battle was instrumental in transportation and access to the Deep South. This battle came after a series of losses like the Battle of Chickamauga. This win boosted the Northern moral ang giving them a good stronghold on Southern passages. -
June 27 1864- Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.
This battle of significant in that it was the largest frontal attack ever carried out by Union Major General William T. Sherman against Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s confederate army of Tennessee and it ended with the failure of Union troops, this was also one of the bloodiest battles leading to 3000 losses of Union troops and 1000 casualties of Confederate forces. -
September 1, 1864 - Union forces take Atlanta.
This was a turning point in the Civil War, dealing a serious blow to the South. General William T. Sherman led the Union to victory in Atlanta, which allowed them to seize a vital Confederate industrial and transportation hub. The victory raised Northern spirits, helped Lincoln win reelection, and prepared the way for Sherman's March to the Sea, which made it harder for the Confederacy to continue the war. -
November 1866 - Georgia rejects 14th amendmen
GA rejects the Fourteenth Amendment. This is more significant than the fact that Goergia was committed about denying African Americans equal rights and protection. Though I believe it reveals Georgia's true colors and their utter contempt for minorities of color, I also believe that in the context of Reconstruction, Georgia may have felt undercut by Northern states mandating rules. -
July 9, 1868 - 14th Amendment added to the Constitution.
This amendment is important because it grants citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States influencing former slaves. Without this amendment I would have never become a naturalized citizen here in the States. -
Feb 3, 1870 - 15th Amendment added to the Constitution
This act gave voting rights to people regardless of race, color or previous servitude. This amendment helps expand civil engagement and include voices of those that are often left unheard. -
July 15 1870 - Georgia is permanently readmitted to the Union
The post-Civil War and Reconstruction era began in 1868 with Georgia's permanent restoration to the Union. It represented progress in civil rights and Southern unity despite persistent problems. However, political upheaval, bloodshed, and broken agreements plagued Georgia by 1870, the last Confederate state to be readmitted. This resulted in Democratic domination and the exclusion of African-American lawmakers by 1872. -
May 17, 1954 : Brown V Board of Education of Topeka:
US Supreme Court declares that segregated schools violate the 14th Amendment. I picked this event because I thought it was an important chapter in the history of the United States when they decided to desegregate schools. -
August 28, 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
In August 1963, the civil rights movement orchestrated its most extensive assembly, drawing as many as 250,000 participants to the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Washington, D.C. This significant occasion featured Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic speech and served as a catalyst for civil and political activism, contributing to the realization of racial equality in the United States. -
1964: Andrew Young was named executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Young was a prominent player in the Civil rights movement. His appointment in the SCLC was significant because it was the key organization in the fight for civil rights and racial equality. -
April 41968: Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated.
Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee Riots in Albany, Fort valley, Macon and Savannah. He was a prominent leader in the civil rights movement. Some say his death led to a loss of momentum in the movement, but it encouraged activism and advocating for social and social change. -
July 20, 1969 American astronaut Neil Armstrong is the 1st human to walk on the Moon
This event is the most important thing to come out of 1969. We as a species left Earth and ventured out into space. The Space Race was pivotal in human intellectual capabilities. Apollo 11 is better than jumping on a boat to colonize new land for Gold, God and Glory. Armstrong gets to be the few people in history that got to see Earth from the Moon. This event was an advancement in technology, in our understanding of space, in a realization and self-actualization of our capabilities. -
1977- President Jimmy Carter
President Jimmy Carter appointed Andrew Young to serve as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Young was the first African American to hold the position. Young was Martin Luther King Jr. most trusted advisor and Young was also the first African American to be elected to Congress from Georgia. -
January 20, 1977 - Jimmy Carter sworn in as the 39th US President.
I picked this event because Carter is from Georgia and became a President. We do not get a lot of notable politicians from Georgia, but Carter's presidency provided representation from a region and does not get represented too often in politics. -
ay 20 1996– Gay rights – Romer v. Evans:
The United States Supreme Court has issued a ruling opposing a law that prohibits cities, towns, or counties in Colorado from enacting legislative, executive, or judicial measures to safeguard the rights of homosexuals. I felt this was an important trajectory for the United States shedding its puritan lifestyle and accepting people for who they are. The United State came a long way from degrading and demonizing members of the LGTBQIA community to giving them rights. -
July 19 1996– The 1996 Summer Olympics
Atlanta became a worldwide center of attention when it hosted the Olympics in 1996. Atlanta's reputation was enhanced by economic prosperity and infrastructure development, which included the creation of new parks and venues. This allowed for the city's economy to thrive through subsequent events.