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Period: to
Colonial Era
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U.S. History: Baltimore is Founded in the Colony of Maryland
The town of Baltimore Maryland was was established and named after Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore. -
GA History: The Colony of Georgia
Georgia becomes the final British colony established in America. Oglethorpe & the Trustees governed this "charity" settlement. The idea was for debtors to have land & grow different cash crops to trade with England and the other royal colonies. Great Britain used the colony with the mercantile system to line their pockets.
This event is included because it describes how Georgia was first settled. The details offer background information to later events that led to the Revolution. -
U.S. History: Slave Insurrection of 1741
Also known as the New York Conspiracy of 1741. It was a plot by slaves and poor whites in the British colony of New York to revolt and level New York City with a series of fires. -
GA History: Battle of Bloody Marsh
A Battle between the Spanish and English on St. Simons Island. The Spanish attempted to invade Georgia but were unsuccessful.
This battle is important to Georgia history because the Spanish lost and were no longer indestructible to Oglethorpe's army. If the English had not won that day Georgia history would have played out differently. -
U.S. History: The Proclamation Line of 1763
The Proclamation Line of 1763 was a British-produced boundary marked in the Appalachian Mountains at the Eastern Continental Divide. It was the British efforts to discourage westward expansion. -
GA History: Treaty of Augusta 1763
The Treaty of Augusta was one of many initiatives used by British authorities in their efforts to gain complete control over Indian affairs. In hopes of future land protection, the Creeks cede their land for a smaller territory. Yet, the treaty failed to keep white settlers from encroaching on Indian lands.
This event is important for the Native people because their land and trade was not protected once the Revolutionary War took place, and after with the gold rush in Georgia. -
Period: to
American Revolution Era
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U.S. History: First Battle of the Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War began with the confrontation between British troops and local militia at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. The war was fought from 1775-1783. -
GA History: Georgia's Provincial Congress Accepts the Associations Ban on Trade
A Provincial Congress was established to govern in opposition to Royal Authority. This was Georgia's second attempt. They assigned representatives who where already at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, and the ban on British trade went into effect in Georgia.
This is a major event leading to Georgia joining the rebellion and future battles. Equally important, the division in Georgia became prevalent at this time. -
U.S. History: The British Evacuate Boston
British forces are forced to evacuate Boston following General George Washington's successful placement of fortifications and cannons on Dorchester Heights. -
GA History: Georgia signs the Declaration of Independence from Britain.
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, and George Walton signed the Declaration of Independence on the behalf of Georgia.
This event is significant because Georgia joined The United States on August 2, 1776, the same day the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. Equally important, in 1818, Georgia named three counties after the Georgia signers. -
GA History: British Troops Evacuate Georgia
British Royal Governor Sir James Wright, officials, and officers leave the city of Savannah and proceed to Charleston, South Carolina. The British left Georgia shortly after General Cornwallis surrendered in Yorktown to General George Washington.
This was significant for Georgia because the colony remained the most loyal to Brittan until this point. The patriots in Georgia were finally free from the British and the war was coming to an end. -
U.S. History: End of the Revolutionary War
After seven years of conflict and a major victory in Yorktown, Virginia, the war came to an end. -
U.S. History: The United States Constitution is Written
James Madison wrote the original draft of the United States Constitution, it was ratified a year later. -
GA History: Georgia ratifies the Constitution and joins the United States
During a special convention in Augusta, Georgia delegates voted unanimously to ratify the new United States Constitution. Georgia is the 4th state to join the United States.
This is significant to Georgia history because it became a state comprised with an executive branch, judicial branch, and legislative branch with a General Assembly to select a governor. -
Period: to
King Cotton Era
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GA History: Whitney Patents the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney develops machinery which significantly increased the process of separating cotton from their seeds. Quicker production led to an increased demand on cotton. The need for more cotton relied heavily on slave labor.
This is important to Georgia because the invention of the cotton gin led to a significant increase of slave labor in the south. And possibly to Georgia seceding from the Union. -
U.S. History: The Jay Treaty
Also known as the Treaty of Amity. This agreement between the United States and Great Britain resolved issues remaining after the Revolutionary War and enabled the countries to trade with one another. -
U.S. History: Eli Whitney Invents Interchangeable Parts
Whitney receives a musket manufacturing contract from the U.S. Army and he made them interchangeable, -
Period: to
Antebellum Era
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GA History: The Announcement of Gold in Northern Georgia is made Public
The Georgia Gold Rush began in Lumpkin County, near Dahlonega. The North Georgia mountains became known as the Georgia Gold Belt.
Finding gold in Georgia was important to the state's history because it led to the Indian Removal Act and the "Trail of Tears." -
U.S. History: The Indian Removal Act
President Andrew Jackson signed the act authorizing the president to grant lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands within existing state borders. -
GA History: "Trail of Tears" in Georgia
In Georgia, hundreds of Cherokee and Creek Indians traveled north towards a deportation camp in Tennessee. This journey was treacherous and many Native Americans did not make it.
The "Trail of Tears" is important to Georgia history and the Cherokee nation because greed from the goldrush led to the mistreatment of Native American people and land. The Native Americans of Georgia could never be the same after the devastation of losing their land and homes. -
U.S. History: Killough Massacre
Eighteen of the Killough settlers were killed or carried off by neighboring Indians and Mexican officials. -
U.S. History: Abraham Lincoln is Elected President
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U.S. History: South Carolina Secedes from the Union
South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union. -
Period: to
Civil War Era
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GA History: Georgia Secedes From the Union
Georgia leaves the Union and joins the Confederate States of America. Georgia was the 5th state to secede. Much of Georgia was against secession. However, those with political power and wealth were slaveholders who feared the loss of the lucrative slave labor they desired.
Georgia seceding from the Union is important because it led to the Civil War. And eventually to the devastation that transpired in Georgia during Sherman's March to the Sea. -
U.S. History: The Battle of Gettysburg
The Confederates lost to Union troops in Gettysburg. There were an estimated 50,00 casualties over the three day battle. -
GA History: The Battle of Atlanta
The Union was victorious in the Battle of Atlanta where over 5,500 Confederate troops casualties and 3700 Union troops. The actual city did not fall until early September.
This battle was significant to Georgia because Atlanta was destroyed and Confederates lost an important rail and supply hub. Equally important, it was the beginning of a turn in the war. After Sherman's troops destroyed Atlanta they began their March to the Sea in Georgia. -
U.S. History: Lincoln is Reelected as President
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GA History: Sherman's "March to the Sea" From Atlanta to Savannah Begins.
After capturing Atlanta, Sherman began his march. This military campaign in GA lasted from mid November - December 21. He divided his army to cover more land between Atlanta, Macon, and Savannah. He ordered mill workers and other Georgians to be arrested and sent north.
It devastated the civilians of Georgia & left many to suffer & starve. It was significant because his approach pressured the confederacy and destroyed their moral. Many Georgian's never returned or recovered after the March. -
U.S. History: Sherman's Campaign of the Carolinas
Sherman and his troops leave Savannah and proceed North to South Carolina. -
Period: to
Reconstruction Era
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U.S. History: Freedmen's Bureau is Founded
The Freedmen's Bureau was to provide food, shelter, clothing, medical services, and land to displaced Southerners, including newly freed African Americans. -
U.S. History: Cornell University is Founded
The Ivy League University was founded in Ithaca, New York by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White. -
GA History: Atlanta University Founded
Atlanta University was founded by James Tate and Grandison Daniels. The University allowed for freedmen to attend and get an education.
This was important for Georgia because the institute educated newly freed slaves after the Civil War. In 1988, it merged with a historically black doctoral research university, Clark Atlanta University. -
U.S. History: Tennessee is Readmitted to the Union
Tennessee is the first state to rejoin after the secession. -
Period: to
Jim Crow Era
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U.S. History: The 15th Amendment is Ratified
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GA History: Georgia is Restored to the Union
Georgia was originally readmitted in 1868 but failed to comply with the new amendments and terms of the constitution until 1870. During this time, Georgia was in and out of military rule due to conflicts in the state.
It was important for Georgia to be readmitted so they could began to recover from the devastation from the war and Sherman's March. Equally important, Georgia revised it's constitution and established a General Assembly when they were restored to the Union. -
GA History: The Invention of Coca-Cola
John S. Pemberton was the Atlanta pharmacist who produced the drink Coca-Cola in downtown Atlanta.
The invention of Coca-Cola is important to the Georgia economy. The Coca-Cola factories of Georgia are lucrative and provide many jobs for Georgians and other Americans to this day. -
U.S. History: The Statue of Liberty is Dedicated to the New York Harbor
The Statue of Liberty was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and was dedicated on October 28, 1886. -
Period: to
Progressive Era
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GA History: Atlanta Compromise Speech
Booker T. Washington praises the South for some of the opportunities it had given blacks since emancipation, and asked whites to trust blacks and provide them with opportunities so that both races could advance in industry and agriculture.
The Speech is important to Georgia history and is still debated today. The Atlanta Compromise was a strategy to address racial problems in the South in a sugar-coated manner. It was a plea for equal opportunities for African American advancement. -
U.S. History: Supreme Court Ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson
The verdict declared separate-but-equal facilities constitutional on intrastate railroads, the Court ruled that the protections of 14th Amendment applied only to political and civil rights not “social rights.” -
U.S. History: Machine-spun Cotton Candy was Invented
It was invented by William Morrison and John C. Wharton in Nashville Tennessee. -
U.S. History: World War I Ends
The infusion of American troops and resources into the western front finally tipped the scale in the Allies' favor. Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies on November 11, 1918. -
GA History: The Boll Weevil in Georgia
Soon after WWI ended the boll weevil began to infest Georgia. Cotton crops and other agriculture were devastated by the insects in Georgia.
The impact of the boll weevil on Georgia's agriculture was significant. The infestation was accompanied by years of drought in Georgia. Farmers struggled for years after to overcome the harsh conditions. -
U.S. History: Boll Weevil in Alabama
Citizens of Enterprise, Alabama, erected a monument for the boll weevil pest that forced them to leave their dependence on cotton. -
GA History: 1924-1927 & 1930-1935 Drought in Georgia
Agriculture in Georgia was already suffering from the arrival of the boll weevil when Georgia fell into a long drought period. Georgia experienced a severe drought that devastated the economy. Farmers lost money because their production decreased
The droughts in Georgia are significant because the occurred during the Great Depression where many people struggled to survive in Georgia. The harsh economic times lasted in Georgia until the 2nd World War began. -
Period: to
The Great Depression Era
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U.S. History: The Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl lasted for nearly a decade were severe dust storms that damaged agriculture in America along drought-stricken plains. -
U.S. History: The New Deal
President Franklin D. Roosevelt New Deal proposal was a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations. Many of those efforts brought needed advancements to Georgia. -
U.S. History: The 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike
In every US West Coast port longshore men walked out. It led to "Bloody Thursday" with the death of two workers and the San Francisco General Strike. -
GA History: Textile Strike of 1934
In Georgia, 44,480 had left their jobs by September 14. The National Guard was quickly called by governors to calm the strikes. Governor Eugene Talmadge declared martial law and had 4,000 National Guard members come to the state. They began arresting thousands of people thought to be associated with the walkouts.
This was important in Georgia History because Talmadge had to declare martial law & textile production halted. The national guard arrested mill workers across GA. -
GA History: Talmadge Speech Opposing the New Deal
In Macon, Georgia, Eugene Talmadge spoke at the Grass Roots Convention. He hoped to persuade Georgians to be against the New Deal and Roosevelt's reelection.
This event was significant to Georgia because his opposition derailed the New Deal in Georgia until he left office. Also, Talmadge original agreed with the New Deal so this was a turning point in his campaign. -
Period: to
World War II Era
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U.S. History: World War II
The second World War lasted until 1945. -
U.S. History: Bethlehem Hingham Shipyards Begin Producing Ships for the War
The Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard of Hingham, Massachusetts was located on Weymouth Back River. It was owned by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company and was a shipyard that produced destroyers during the war. -
U.S. History: Malaria Epidemic of American troops and Americans
During the war Malaria swept through the troops and spread. By 1951, malaria was considered eliminated from the United States. However, to the present day, malaria remains a major field of activities at CDC. -
GA History: Contract to Build 36 Liberty Ships on the Savannah River
Southeastern Shipbuilding Corporation secured a contract to construct 36 Liberty ships at a site on the Savannah River. The corporation ended up producing 88 ships during the war.
This was important to Georgia history because it helped the economy after the Great Depression. Equally important, with the men overseas, many women and African Americans were provided jobs in these war production factories. -
GA History: Center for Disease Control
The CDC was established by the Public Health Service to combat malaria, typhus, and other infectious diseases. Georgia was chosen because the South had the most cases of malaria transmission.
The CDC is not only important to Georgia history it is significant to U.S. history. Many vaccines and important studies for public health have been developed at the CDC since it was founded. -
Period: to
The Civil Rights Period
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GA History: Leroy Johnson is Elected to the Georgia General Assembly
Leroy Johnson was the first African American to be elected to the Georgia General Assembly since Reconstruction. His election was a sign of the change in Georgia. During his political career, he promoted the interest of black Georgians.
His election is significant to Georgia history because as Senator he could be a voice for black Georgians. He was a fierce leader for civil rights. -
U.S. History: Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. -
U.S. History: The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
He was shot in the face and neck by James Earl Ray in Tennessee where he was leading a strike of waste management workers. -
GA History: Funeral of Martin Luther King Jr
Atlanta Georgia held two funeral services for Martin Luther King Jr. One at Ebenezer Baptist Church with close friends and family, followed by service for the public at Morehouse College, 3 miles away.
This was a significant time in Georgia and U.S, history because of his role in the Civil Rights Movement. Many deadly riots proceeded his funeral and America laid a great leader and activist to rest. -
GA History: Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter Becomes President of the United States
Georgia native Jimmy Carter and former Governor begins his term as President of the United States of America. He established the Department of Education and the Department of Energy. He promoted human rights and served one term.
Jimmy Carter is important to Georgia history because he is the only President who has been from Georgia. Equally important, the two departments he established are significant to U.S. history. -
U.S. History: U.S. President Jimmy Carter Signs Legislation Creating the United States Department of Energy
The Department of Energy was created in 1977 in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis. -
Period: to
Modern Era
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U.S. History: The Oklahoma City Bombing
Timothy McVeigh killed 168 when he set off a bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. 19 of his victims were children. -
U.S. History: The Summer Olympics is Held in Atlanta
This was the fourth time the United States has hosted the Summer Olympics. It lasted from July 19th to August 4th. -
GA History: The Centennial Olympic Park Bombing
A homemade pipe bomb exploded in Centennial Olympic Park during the Olympics in Atlanta. The bomb was left in a knapsack near the main areas of the event. Eric Robert Rudolf killed one person & injured over 100 others. After the bomb went off, a second victim died from a heart attack. Rudolf was not charged until 1998 when he bombed an abortion clinic in Alabama. He alluded police until 2003.
This event was significant to Georgia history because it was a terroristic act with lasting effects.
