Headright System Headright System Indian land in Georgia east of the Oconee River Indian land in Georgia east of the Oconee River

was given to settlerswas given to settlers Every white male counted as a head of Every white male counted as a head of

household and had the “right” to receive up to household and had the “right” to receive up to 1,000 acres1,000 acres

This was generally replaced in 1803 by a This was generally replaced in 1803 by a land lottery for government-owned land west of for government-owned land west of the Oconeethe Oconee

All white heads-of-household could buy a lottery All white heads-of-household could buy a lottery chance and win land; millions of acres in several chance and win land; millions of acres in several states were given away states were given away

Yazoo Land FraudYazoo Land Fraud Around 1795, four companies bribed the Around 1795, four companies bribed the

governor and legislatorsgovernor and legislators Bought Bought millions of acres in western Georgia in western Georgia

(today’s Alabama and Mississippi) for 1½(today’s Alabama and Mississippi) for 1½¢¢ an an acreacre

The public found out and protested; the The public found out and protested; the legislators involved were voted out of officelegislators involved were voted out of office

General Assembly repealed the law General Assembly repealed the law approving the sale; the federal government approving the sale; the federal government paid more than $4 million to help Georgia paid more than $4 million to help Georgia settle Yazoo land claimssettle Yazoo land claims

The Western TerritoryThe Western Territory In 1802, Georgia ceded (gave up) its land claims In 1802, Georgia ceded (gave up) its land claims

west of the Chattahoochee River to the federal west of the Chattahoochee River to the federal government for $1.25 milliongovernment for $1.25 million

President Thomas Jefferson doubled the President Thomas Jefferson doubled the nation’s size in 1803 with the nation’s size in 1803 with the Louisiana territory purchase; the U.S. paid ; the U.S. paid France $15 million for land that stretched to the France $15 million for land that stretched to the Rocky MountainsRocky Mountains

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Cotton and the Cotton GinCotton and the Cotton Gin Eli Whitney in 1793 invented a machine for in 1793 invented a machine for

separating cotton seeds from its fiberseparating cotton seeds from its fiber Increased the amount cotton growers Increased the amount cotton growers

could process each daycould process each dayThe gin used wire teeth on a turning The gin used wire teeth on a turning

cylinder to separate the seed from fiber cylinder to separate the seed from fiber

The Mechanical ReaperThe Mechanical ReaperCyrus McCormick invented a machine to invented a machine to

cut grain in a fieldcut grain in a fieldWooden paddles attached to a horse’s Wooden paddles attached to a horse’s

harness allowed six times more grain to be harness allowed six times more grain to be cut per day than previous methodscut per day than previous methods

Georgia farmers could work larger and Georgia farmers could work larger and more profitable farms with these more profitable farms with these agricultural machinesagricultural machines

Depression and the Panic of 1837Depression and the Panic of 1837

Many Georgia Many Georgia banks failed between failed between 1837 and the early 1840s1837 and the early 1840s

This happened during a depression (a This happened during a depression (a sharp economic downturn)sharp economic downturn)

Many business failed; many farmers Many business failed; many farmers and planters lost their landand planters lost their land

Many banks didn’t have enough cash to Many banks didn’t have enough cash to pay out money their depositors had pay out money their depositors had entrusted to them entrusted to them

Early Roads in Georgia Early Roads in Georgia Railroads, most built after 1830, replaced Railroads, most built after 1830, replaced

horses, stagecoaches, and boatshorses, stagecoaches, and boats Most Georgia roads ran east to west; they Most Georgia roads ran east to west; they

were former Indian footpathswere former Indian footpaths Plank roads over wetlands that featured Plank roads over wetlands that featured

“pikes” or gates were called turnpikes“pikes” or gates were called turnpikes Travelers paid a toll, or fee at each pike; the Travelers paid a toll, or fee at each pike; the

Old Federal Road connected Athens north to connected Athens north to TennesseeTennessee

TerminusTerminus Located at the southern end of a rail line that Located at the southern end of a rail line that

originated in Chattanooga, Tennesseeoriginated in Chattanooga, Tennessee Later remained Marthasville, after the Later remained Marthasville, after the

daughter of former Governor Wilson Lumpkindaughter of former Governor Wilson Lumpkin Marthasville became Marthasville became Atlanta, and the capital , and the capital

of Georgiaof Georgia Rail lines greatly reduced travel time for Rail lines greatly reduced travel time for

people and freightpeople and freight

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Religious ActivitiesReligious Activities Anglicans, Quakers, and Methodist circuit riders Anglicans, Quakers, and Methodist circuit riders

(traveling ministers for frontier dwellers) grew in (traveling ministers for frontier dwellers) grew in numbernumber

Georgia’s first Roman Catholic Church Georgia’s first Roman Catholic Church established in Wilkes County in 1796established in Wilkes County in 1796

Savannah had active Jewish synagogueSavannah had active Jewish synagogue As more towns were established, churches As more towns were established, churches

become central to community life become central to community life In other parts of America, the Mormon church In other parts of America, the Mormon church

and the and the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) churches were startedchurches were started

Education in GeorgiaEducation in Georgia The The University of Georgia chartered in 1785 as chartered in 1785 as

nation’s first land-grant university; opened for nation’s first land-grant university; opened for classes in 1801classes in 1801

UGA was often called Franklin College in its UGA was often called Franklin College in its early daysearly days

By 1820, there were forty academies (schools) By 1820, there were forty academies (schools) across the stateacross the state

Georgia Female College (later Wesleyan Georgia Female College (later Wesleyan College) opened in 1836College) opened in 1836

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Cherokee CultureCherokee Culture Most advanced of Georgia’s tribes; learned Most advanced of Georgia’s tribes; learned

quickly from white settlersquickly from white settlers Some, like Chief James Vann, lived in large Some, like Chief James Vann, lived in large

houseshouses Chief Vann encouraged ChristianityChief Vann encouraged Christianity Sequoyah developed a syllabary, a group of developed a syllabary, a group of

symbols that stand for whole syllables; it gave symbols that stand for whole syllables; it gave Cherokees a written form of their languageCherokees a written form of their language

Government modeled on that of United States; Government modeled on that of United States; capital at New Echota by 1825 capital at New Echota by 1825

Creek Indians Creek Indians Series of clashes between Creek and settlers Series of clashes between Creek and settlers

who pushed into their land known as Oconee War who pushed into their land known as Oconee War Treaty of New York: Creeks give up all land east : Creeks give up all land east

of the Oconee River, but could keep land on the of the Oconee River, but could keep land on the west side; this angered Georgia settlers, who felt west side; this angered Georgia settlers, who felt betrayed by their governmentbetrayed by their government

Land treaties were often brokenLand treaties were often broken Red Stick Creeks endorsed war to fight for their Red Stick Creeks endorsed war to fight for their

land claims; White Stick Creeks wanted peaceland claims; White Stick Creeks wanted peace

The Creek WarThe Creek War Red Sticks attacked Fort Mims, killing more than Red Sticks attacked Fort Mims, killing more than

400 people400 people The Battle of Horseshoe Bend, in Alabama, The Battle of Horseshoe Bend, in Alabama,

ended the Creek War in 1814; Andrew Jackson ended the Creek War in 1814; Andrew Jackson led the U.S. troopsled the U.S. troops

The Creeks were forced to give up nearly all The Creeks were forced to give up nearly all their land to the U.S. governmenttheir land to the U.S. government

The Treaty of Indian Springs gave up last Creek The Treaty of Indian Springs gave up last Creek lands in Georgia to the U.S.; Chief William lands in Georgia to the U.S.; Chief William McIntosh was later murdered by rival Creeks for McIntosh was later murdered by rival Creeks for signing the treatysigning the treaty

Creek Removal Creek Removal Treaty of Washington (1832) resulted in 5 million Treaty of Washington (1832) resulted in 5 million

acres of Creek land ceded to the United Statesacres of Creek land ceded to the United States U.S. agreed to allow Creeks who wished to U.S. agreed to allow Creeks who wished to

remain and live on 2 million of those acres; the remain and live on 2 million of those acres; the U.S. promised to protect those who stayedU.S. promised to protect those who stayed

Those who didn’t wish to stay would have to Those who didn’t wish to stay would have to move to the western territoriesmove to the western territories

The treaty was broken; by 1840, nearly all The treaty was broken; by 1840, nearly all Creeks were forced to move westCreeks were forced to move west

The Trail of TearsThe Trail of Tears Discovery of gold in north Georgia heightened Discovery of gold in north Georgia heightened

demand for Cherokee landdemand for Cherokee land The Supreme Court ruled that Cherokee territory The Supreme Court ruled that Cherokee territory

was not subject to state law, but the ruling was not was not subject to state law, but the ruling was not enforcedenforced

Between 1832 and 1835, Cherokees were stripped Between 1832 and 1835, Cherokees were stripped of their landof their land

In 1838, thousands of Cherokees were forcibly In 1838, thousands of Cherokees were forcibly removed to Oklahoma; about 4,000 died from removed to Oklahoma; about 4,000 died from disease, exposure, or hunger disease, exposure, or hunger

700 to 800 escaped and hid in the North Carolina 700 to 800 escaped and hid in the North Carolina mountainsmountains

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