Georgia

GEORGIA By: Elaine and Sean

American Indians settled in the land now know as Georgia thousands of years ago. In about 1540 Europeans begin exploring Georgia’s land. Poor people in Great Britain had few opportunities to get jobs in the early 1700s. People who could not pay their bills were sent to jail. In 1730, James Edward Oglethorpe asked King George II for land in Georgia. Oglethorpe wanted to build a colony so poor men could get a fresh start. In 1732, King George the second, gave a land charter to a group of men called the trustees. In 1733 the trustees sent a group of 120 English settlers to start a colony called Georgia. It was called Georgia in honor of King George in England. The first Europeans to explore present-day Georgia were Spanish. Spain ruled Georgia for 100 years but then the French and English colonists began claming the area. Hernando De Soto led a group of adventurers through the area. The Spanish attacked Georgia in 1742; this was called the battle of the Bloody Marsh. Oglethorpe and his troops victoriously won the battle. In 1774 colonial leaders held a meeting to talk about problems with Britain. All 13 colonies set members to the Second Continental Congress in 1775. The Congress signed the Declaration of Independence the following year. The document said that no colonies belonged to Britain. The colonies fought against Britain for their independence in the Revolutionary War which started in 1775 and ended in 1783. This was when the British captured Savannah.

TIMELINE FOR GEORGIA 1540- Hernando De Soto explores what is now Georgia. 1560s- Spaniards build missions and forts along Georgia’s coast. 1721- Carolina colonists build Fort King George in Georgia. 1727- Carolina colonists abandon Fort King George. 1730- James Edward Oglethorpe requested a charter for Georgia. 1732- King George the second grants the charter for Georgia. 1733- The first colonists arrived in Georgia and found Savannah; the Colonists and the Creeks signed a peace treaty. 1742- Battle of bloody marsh. 1749- Slavery becomes legal in Georgia. 1752- Georgia becomes a royal colony (royal from the king). 1754-1763- British and French soldiers fight the French and Indian war in North America 1758- The Church of England becomes the official religion of Georgia. 1763- Proclamation of 1763 sets colonial border and provides land for American Indians. (Proclamation is a type of document.) 1765- England’s Parliament passes the Stamp Act. 1767- England’s Parliament passes the Townshend Acts. 1775- American Revolution begins. 1776- Georgia’s representatives at the Continental Congress vote for independence. 1778- English troops capture Savannah. 1782- Colonists recapture Savannah. 1783- Colonists win the American Revolution. 1788- Georgia becomes America’s fourth state.