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Establishment of Georgia Colony
Oglethorpe and 114 colonists created a home for themselves on the 13th and last British colony in North America. George II had granted the Trustees a charter a year earlier. The original plan for Georgia was to give debtors a fresh start in a land with no social classes. However, there were no previously imprisoned debtors in the first 114 colonists that traveled to Georgia. The new colony prohibited slavery and large landholdings. It was the beginning of the state of Georgia we now call home. -
First Masonic Grand Lodge is constituted in Massachusetts
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Slavery Officially Became Legal in Georgia
The British House of Commons overturned the ban on slavery in the Georgia colony at the request of the Trustees. The law had been violated since the mid 1740s. This is important, because it was the start of the use of of slaves as a labor force. It ended the Trustees original vision for a classless society and disregarded their motto: Not for self, but for others. -
Benjamin Franklin: lightening and electricity
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The Virginia Declaration of Rights is adopted.
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Georgia Delegates Signed the Declaration of Independence
Even though the Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4, 1776, the only person to sign it on that day was John Hancock. It was not until this day that Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, and George Walton along with 50 other delegates signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. This date is important, because it marks the day that Georgia joined the United States of America. -
Siege of Savannah Began
In December of 1778, British had reconquered Georgia as a British colony. The America's new French allies anchored a fleet of 47 ships of the shore of Savannah. Their commander ordered the British commander to surrender the city. The British commander asked for 24 hours to deliberate. 800 British reinforcements arrived in that time and he refused to surrender. The Allies attacked but failed miserably. This event is important, because it left Savannah under British control for three more years. -
Fort Wilson Riot
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UGA Chartered
After the revolution, Georgians realized the fledgling republic would survive only with educated citizens. The General Assembly set aside 40,000 acres for a state university. Abraham Baldwin wrote and the legislature granted a charter for the institution that became the University of Georgia. This event is important, because the charter was revolutionary: it set up an educational system under secular control and support of the state rather than the church. -
Dollar chosen as monetary unit for U.S.
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4th State to Ratify the Constitution of the US
Georgia called a special convention in Augusta to consider the proposed charter. The delegates voted unanimously to ratify the new U.S. Constitution, the fourth state to do so, on January 2, 1788. This event is important because the Constitution of the United States established America's national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens. -
Connecticut becomes 5th state to be admitted to the U.S.
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Eli Whitney received Patent for Cotton Gin
In 1792, Eli Whitney moved to Georgia when his friend Catharine Greene, General Nathanael Greene’s widow, invited him to her plantation outside Savannah. There, he perfected the engine that effectively separated the seed from short-staple cotton. His invention revolutionized the southern economy, making short staple cotton production profitable. This is important, because the South's dependence on this cash crop lead to the peoples' mistreatment of slaves through forced labor. -
The Naval Act of 1794
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Georgia's First Land Lottery
John Milledge signed into law the first land lottery in the history of the state, which helped to distribute territory seized from Georgia's Creek and Cherokee populations. Georgia turned to the lottery system because of the corrupt Yazoo Land Fraud. It is important, because the lotteries had consequences. More widespread landownership shifted political power away from aristocratic planters. Cotton cultivation spread across the state, resulting in an increase in slave ownership. -
The Louisiana Purchase is completed in New Orleans
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Gold Rush Began
Benjamin Parks was walking through a park when he discovered gold in North Georgia on October 27, 1828. Him, along with five others, all claim to have made the gold discovery. It wasn't until August 1, 1829, when the Georgia Journal ran a notice about two gold mines in Habersham county, that the discovery had been documented. The U.S. established a branch mint at Dahlonega in 1835. The Gold Rush is important, because it was one of the major reasons behind the removal of the Cherokees in 1838. -
William Austin Burt patents the typewriter
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First (failed) assassination attempt against a President; President Andrew Jackson
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Treaty of New Echota
The Treaty of New Echota was signed giving up Cherokee lands to the U.S. in exchange for compensation. Without authorization from Cherokee Chief John Ross, Major Ridge and a few other Cherokees signed the Treaty of New Echota and agreed to move west of the Mississippi in exchange for $5 million. This event is important, because even though ratified by one vote in the U.S. Senate, the Cherokee Nation rejected the treaty, leading directly to forced removal in 1838. -
Battle of the Alamo begins
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First Women's College in the World Chartered
Chartered as the Georgia Female College on December 23, 1836, Wesleyan was founded through the efforts of a group of Macon citizens and the Georgia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church as evidence of their concern for the education of women. The Reverend George Foster Pierce was elected president of the Georgia Female College in 1838, and the College opened its doors on January 7, 1839. This event is important, because it was the first chartered women's college in the world. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a Missouri slave who sued for freedom after his master took him to the free territories of Illinois and Wisconsin. The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Roger Taney and James Moore Wayne of Georgia, ruled that blacks had “no rights which any white man is bound to respect.” This event is important, because a Georgian sitting on the Supreme Court decided it and it showed the lack of rights given to blacks at this time. -
The Panic of 1857
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Georgia Secedes from Union
Georgia decided to leave to U.S. in 1861. Georgia's declaration of causes made it clear: the defense of slavery was the primary cause for dissolving the Union. Future Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens warned the decision would lead to war. This event is important, because secession did bring war, and ultimately, the end of slavery. -
Confederate States of America is formed
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The Emancipation Proclamation takes effect
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Battle of Chickamauga
It was the largest battle fought on Georgia soil.The combined casualty count was 34,000 men, the greatest Union defeat in the Western Theater. Chickamauga was a tactical Confederate victory, but a strategic defeat. U.S. General George Thomas earned the nickname "Rock of Chickamauga" by holding off the Confederates long enough for the Union Army to retreat to Chattanooga, their objective all along. This event was important, because it set the stage for Sherman's March to the Sea. -
Coinage Act of 1864
The United States Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1864 that puts the words "In God We Trust" on all coins. -
Sherman's March to the Sea Began
Sherman's March began in Atlanta on this day. He took 60,000 men toward Savannah in hopes of dealing a psychological blow to the heart of the Confederacy. Sherman would prove to the people of Georgia that the Confederate government was powerless to protect them. The army left hungry and demoralized white civilians in its wake while liberating many black Georgians from bondage. The march ended in Savannah on December 21, 1864. This event is important, because it began the end of the Civil War. -
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
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The Camilla Massacre
In early September, white Democrats in the Georgia legislature expelled all 28 African-American members. In response, Philip Joiner led several hundred freedmen on a March from Albany to Camilla for a Republican rally. As the marchers entered the courthouse square, the sheriff and other local whites opened fire: 12 were killed and 30 more wounded. This event is important, because it resulted in many black voters staying home for the presidential election two months later. -
Atlanta Journal First Published
The Atlanta Journal was Atlanta's most popular for many years. It was founded by E.F. Hoge. The first edition was published in 1883 and it quickly became as popular as the Constitution. Hoge sold it to Hoke Smith for $10,000 in 1887 and he sold it in 1900. In 1922, the Journal started WSB radio. James Cox, who ran for President, bought the Journal in 1939 and the Constitution in 1950, with the papers merging together in 2001. It was the most popular newspaper for around 100 years. -
Time Zones created by American and Canadian railroads
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Georgia State Capital Construction begins
Georgia's capital started in Milledgeville and made it's move to Atlanta in 1868 but had no building. In 1883, the state legislature gave the okay to build a new Capitol building with a one million dollar fund. It took over 4 years for 250 men to build the building, built with Indiana limestone, Georgia marble and half a million bricks from Atlanta's old City Hall. The top was covered in tin but was redone with Gold from Dahlonega in 1958. -
The Washington Monument in D.C. is completed
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The Statue of Liberty arrives in NYC
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Georgia Tech Founded
"The Ramblin' Wreck" was created to help bring the Industrial Revolution to Georgia. Georgia Tech started with $65,000 in state funding and 84 students. The school started off only teaching mechanical engineering but eventually introduced students to the chance to study electrical, chemical, and civil engineering. Women started attending GT in 1951 and in 1961, GT was the first college to admit black students without a court order. Today, it is one of the top research universities in the U.S. -
The United Mine Workers of America is founded in Ohio
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GA Hurricane of 1893
Killing almost 2,000 people, the "Sea Island Storm" hit Georgia and created catastrophic damages. This storm hit Savannah with winds of 120 mph, as a category 3 storm. It was one of the most powerful storms that had ever hit the east coast. It left 30,000 people homeless and created millions of dollars worth of property damages. Governor William Northen reached out to the Red Cross for help but didn't receive any until 2 months later. It is still the 3rd deadliest storm in American History. -
Charles Curtis becomes first Native American U.S. Senator
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Georgia Literacy Tests
The Georgia Constitution stated that voters had to be white, 21, a Georgia resident for a year or more and a male to vote. Governor Hoke Smith created a literacy test that must be passed in order to vote. Smith created loopholes so that whites could vote even if they failed the test, as well as saying any Veterans and their family members. This was called the "Grandfather Clause". This took Georgians back to Jim Crow times. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 overturned this, however, in 1907. -
Arizona is admitted as the 48th U.S. state
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Girl Scouts founded in USA
During the midst of the Progressive Era, Juliette Gordon Low created a worldwide movement. She encouraged girls to have courage and embrace their strength at a time when women could not even vote. She gathered a group of girls together in her hometown of Savannah and created the Girl Scout Movement. The group did more than just fun extracurricular activities; the Girl Scouts offered support and help in their community and did things to improve their area. There are now 2.6 million Girl Scouts. -
Woodrow Wilson's "14 Points"
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Spanish Flu Epidemic Began
In 1918, the Spanish Flu, that had killed more Americans than all of the wars from the 20th century combined, hit Atlanta. Just as World War 1 was over and took the lives of 10 million lives in over 4 years, the Spanish flu killed 20 million people in just 18 months. The Atlanta City Council decided to ban all public gatherings such as school, church, and even funerals were given limited time limits. During the first (and most devestating) epidemic for Georgia, 750 people died in Atlanta alone. -
Georgia Women Gain Right to Vote
On August 13, 1921 women received the right to vote. Governor Thomas Hardwick signed the act that would give women this official right. Georgia was the first state to deny the suffrage amendment when it was submitted to the states. In August 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, making it the Nineteenth Amendment. Georgia held on to the prevention of woman voters until 1922. -
First Miss America Pageant
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Delta Begins Passenger Flights to Atlanta
Starting as a crop-dusting company in the delta of the Mississippi River, Delta became one of Georgia's most famous corporations of all time. Collett Woolman bought the company in 1928 and named it Delta Air Service with passenger service between Dallas and Jackson, Mississippi. Eventually, he widens passenger service to Atlanta and west to Fort Worth. Deltas headquarters was in Atlanta and just continued to expand and grow. It became Delta Air Lines in 1945 and was a post-war powerhouse for GA. -
The last confirmed lynching of blacks in the Northern U.S. occurs
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Public Law 80-557
Established that the Civil Air Patrol is an auxilliary of the U.S. Air Force -
Three Governors Controversy
Described as "one of the most bizarre political episodes in American history", for a brief time Georgia had 3 governors. Eugene Talmadge won the 1946 governor election for a 4th term but suddenly died. To fill his spot, his son Herman was appointed by the state Legislature. Anti-Talmadge men (Melvin Thompson and Ellis Arnall) decided that they were governor instead. After fistfights and multiple men using the governor's suite, the legislature chose Herman (again) and he had the others removed. -
Alaska is admitted as the 49th U.S. State
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Bus Desegregation in Atlanta
Because the boycott in Montogomery Alabama (January 1957) was successful, the "Triple L" Movement (Love, Law, and Liberation) came to Atlanta. A group of black ministers fought against the law of segregation on transportation. The group knew they'd be arrested for not getting off of buses and they were arrested on January 9th. This was their plan so that they could take this issue to the court system. The courts abolished the segregation and anyone could ride anywhere on January 20, 1959. -
Desegregation of UGA
On this day, the University of Georgia admitted its first black students. Hamilton Holmes and Carlayne Hunter applied to UGA in 1959 just be turned down. The students reapplied every semester and eventually sued the University in federal court. The U.S. District Judge William Bootle told UGA to admit them. There was a protest outside of the students' dorms which caused the University to suspend the 2 students. Judge Bootle, again, had them admitted. After being readmitted, the violence stopped. -
Establishment of the Peace Corps
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Georgia Lottery Began
While lotteries had been around in Georgia since the time of the Georgia Gold Rush, when Indian land was distributed through a lottery, this was a new kind of lottery. This lottery created funds for education. The majority of the funds go to the HOPE Scholarship. This scholarship is to help low-income families as well as keep top students in the state. The lottery also funds Head Start and pre-K programs. The first week of the lottery brought in over $400 million in sales. -
the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is approved
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Atlanta Olympics Begin
For a little over two weeks in July 1996, Atlanta was the most important place in the world- the chosen host for the Summer Olympics. This is the largest event in Atlanta history. With over 2 million visitors, Atlanta was swarmed causing transportation and accommodation issues. But for the first time, all nations that were invited sent athletes. There were over 10,000 athletes competing in 271 events. This also helped boost the Atlanta economy, bringing in billions of dollars. -
Fox News Channel begins broadcasting
