Georgia

﻿Georgia
﻿__**Geography**__

Georgia is located in the southeastern region of the United States. It's topography is divided into three regions.The costal plain, lying inland of Georgia's 110 miles of coastline, is made of low-lying swamps and wetlands that cover more then half of the state. Piedmont, lying to the west of the costal plain, is a large plateau with the best agricultural land in the state. Lastly, the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountains, only covers the northwest corner of the state. This region is less developed and heavily forested then the other regions in the state. The highest point in Georgia is Brasstown Bald Mountain, which reaches 4,784 feet. Some of the major bodies of water in the state include Clark Hill Lake which reaches into South Carolina reaching 105 squared miles. Another body of water that is shared with Georgia and South Carolina is Hartwell Lake, reaching 86 squared miles. Some of the major rivers include Chattaho ochee, Savannah, Coosa, and Ocmulgee, the longest extending 436 miles.

Georgia's geography affected the colonies development because of the elevatoin, stream erosion, ravines, and other conditions. These natural boundaries took an effect on where settlement could take place. It also had a large effect on farming because towards the coast of Georgia, farming was harder because the soil was weak because of the swamps. However, inland of Georgia and toward the mountains, Georgia had firm soil that was ideal place to produce a large variety of crops.

__**History**__ **﻿** Georgia was the last of the thirteen colonies to be established. The first Europeans to eve r come to Georgia were the spanish members of the Hernando de Soto expedition. As they arrived, the spanish fought the native Americans currently settled in the area in order to dominate the land. They killed almost all of the native Americans with the diseased they carried over seas, and established a claim to the territory. King Charles II ignored this claim, and made a land grant for the english colony of South Carolina, that included parts of Georgia. This led to English-Spanish rivalry for several years. In 1732 James Oglethorpe received a royal charter from King George II. Georgia was was originally established with the plan to provide a refuge for people in debt. James Oglethorpe fought, and defeated spanish forces, ending any Spanish claims on the region. Unfortunately even after the victory, Georgia still failed as a colony at first, but once it was surrendered back to the British crown, it became a prime resource to Britain's economy. Therefore the colony of Georgia was mainly focused on economics.

**__Economics__**

Georgia was originally created with the intentions of being a place for people in debt to move to. James Oglethorpe had hopes that the debtors would work off their own debt in Georgia and produce wines, silks, and spices to be sent over seas to Britain without the use of slaves. This plan was unsuccessful, and the colony failed. This caused Georgia to be surrendered back to the British crown. This caused for slavery to be legalized. The legalization of slavery caused Georgia to become a much more successful colony. Georgia became an important supplier of many agricultural goods, lumber, and naval stores for Britain, due to the hard labor, and large slave population.

__**Social**__

Georgia was a very unusual colony due to its varying ethnic make up. Georgia was made up of English, Scottish, Welsh, German, Italian, and Swiss settlers. When Georgia was ori ginally founded, christianity was enforced, and all native Americans in the region were required to convert, later on religious freedom was enforced. In Georgia women played an active role, at first women mainly worked inside the household, taking care of children and completing house work. Later on women were able to get jobs outside of the household as well, and were even able to receive grants if they were partnered with a male relative or associate.

__ **Political** __ James Oglethorpe was given a royal charter from King George II in order to establish Georgia as a colony. The colony was named in honor of the king by Ja mes Oglethorpe. Once his colony failed, and was taken over by the Royal crown, people elected an assembly and the king appointed a governor. The right to vote was also extended to protestant free men, with certain property restrictions. The colony continues to deny Roman Catholics from living in Georgia, even after the Royal crown took it over. After the gove rnment shifted, is when Georgia grew rapidly.

**__Terms__** 1) __Triangular Trade__ - a system of trade between three regions or ports. Usually develops when a region has exports that are not required in the region from which its imports come. There was a triangular trade between the colonies, England, and West Africa. Georgia provided many agricultural goods, lumber, and naval stores in which were sent over seas to England.

2) __Salutary Neglect__ - Salutary neglect is the British policy of not strictly enforcing laws, in order to maintain loyalty with the colonies. This allowed England to still receive all of their raw materials from the colonies and make a profit, while the colonists consider them self british and remain loyal. Georgia exported their raw materials to England, and were very loyal.

3) __Mercantilism__ - Mercantilism is the system where the mother country being England, uses the colonies for raw materials in order to make a profit. Georgia provided several important and necessary products to England, in which they re- sold and made a large profit off of.

4) __Great Awakening__ - The great awakening consisted of several calvinist religious revivals that swept through the colonies. George Whitefield who was a very famous British preacher seen by thousands and thought the established clergy and churches didn't meet their needs, made his first appearance in the colonies in Georgia. He came back several times and was very popular.

5) __Cash Crops__ - Cash crops were the most important crops in the triangular trade. They were the crops that brought in the most profit, and were in the highest demand. Georgia contained several important agricultural goods, such as cash crops, that England benefited greatly from.

**__Road To The Revolution__**

**__The French and Indian War__**

Georgia played a role in the French and Indian war because it was on the border of Florida. Due to the British domination in the war, Florida was taken over by the British. This effected Georgia tremendously because instead of being bordered by the Spanish. Now they were much safer, not worrying about the Spanish crossing into the Georgia region. Georgia was divided between being loyalists, and patriots. As they were also divided in supporting the American Revolution.

**__Revolution__**

During the American Revolution, Georgia was divided over the issue of American independence from Britain. This led Georgia to have huge amounts of tension within their colony. Georgia did send delegates to the Continental Congress, and about half of the Georgia residents supported the constitution while the other half remained dedicated to the British crown. Throughout the Revolution the British were able to keep control of the state for the majority of the war. Georgia was the first deep southern state to support the constitution in 1788.

__**Citations: **__ // American History //, s.v. "Georgia," accessed September 25, 2011. http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/. // American History //, s.v. "James Oglethorpe," accessed September 25, 2011. http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/. // American History //, s.v. "Enemies and Allies: The Founding of Georgia," accessed September 25, 2011. http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/. Hodler, T.W. and H.A. Schretter. 1986. The Atlas of Georgia. University of Georgia Press, Athens.