Georgia

Georgia Gold Rush

  • Timeline

    • Gold rush period: 1820s-1830s.

    • Intertwined with Native American history, particularly involving the Creeks and Cherokees.

Native American Land Loss in Georgia

  • Native Groups

    • Major groups: Creeks and Cherokees.

    • Other related groups: Yamagros and Yamasees (Lower Creeks).

  • Land Loss History

    • From 1733 (founding of Georgia) to 1835, Creeks and Cherokees lost their land gradually.

    • Key historical dates of land cessions (1733, 1760, 1790, various years in the 1800s).

Compact of 1802

  • Parties Involved

    • State of Georgia & Federal Government.

  • Key Agreements

    • Georgia gave up claims to land west of Chattahoochee River.

    • Chattahoochee became the western boundary of Georgia.

    • Federal government agreed to remove all Natives from Georgia.

    • Significant implications for the Creeks and Cherokees, indicating an aim for their total removal.

Land Cessions in Georgia

  • Subsequent Agreements

    • Included multiple agreements throughout the early 1800s leading to increased land possession by Georgia.

    • By early 1820s, only the Cherokees remained, surrounded by settlers and state encroachment.

  • Demographic Context

    • Approximately 17,000 Cherokees versus 1,000,000 whites from around Georgia and neighboring states.

Cherokee Adaptation Policy

  • Adoption of New Practices

    • To retain their land, Cherokees adopted Anglo-American culture.

    • Transitioned to farming, merchandising, and craftsmanship.

    • Developed a syllabary for their language, distinguishing it from alphabets. Created by Sequoyah.

    • Established a newspaper, "Cherokee Phoenix" (1828), published in English and Cherokee syllabary.

  • Government and Society Changes

    • Adoption of a constitution modeled after the U.S. Constitution.

    • Established a capital, which was usually a government sign of legitimacy.

    • Adoption of slavery demonstrated deeper integration into Southern society.

Challenges of Adaptation

  • Outcomes of Adaptation

    • Although Cherokees demonstrated commitment to adapting to Anglo-American society, the desires of Georgia settlers and government did not wane.

    • In 1828, Georgia extended its laws over Cherokee lands, nullifying Cherokee laws despite not having a formal treaty.

  • Legal Resistance

    • Cherokee pursued legal channels to challenge the constitutionality of Georgia's laws.

Supreme Court Cases Involving Cherokees

  • Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)

    • Supreme Court ruled against the Cherokees due to William Worth’s incorrect argumentation on their status.

    • This case provided guidance on how to approach a future legal action.

  • Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

    • Argued that Georgia lacked authority to impose its laws on the Cherokee Nation.

    • Chief Justice John Marshall declared Georgia's laws unconstitutional.

    • Suggested statehood for Cherokee Nation to avoid future disputes.

Federal Government's Lack of Support

  • Andrew Jackson's Stance

    • Allegedly ignored the Supreme Court's decision and enforced the removal of Cherokees.

    • Georgia initiated land surveys and began distributing land immediately after passing laws without considering Cherokee acknowledgment.

  • Land Distribution Method

    • Utilized a lottery system to distribute land as a more democratic approach but also reflected corruption.

Gold Discovery in Georgia

  • Timing and Impact

    • Confirmed discovery of gold in 1829, sparking a rush of miners to Cherokee land.

    • These miners were known as "Twenty-niners."

  • Cherokee Response

    • Viewed the arrival of miners as an invasion known as "the great intrusion."

Methods of Gold Extraction

  • Placer Mining

    • Collecting gold at or near the Earth's surface.

    • Methods included:

    • Panning: Simple technique using a pan to separate gold from dirt and sand in a creek.

    • Cradle Rocker: More elaborate than panning, involved a rocking device to separate materials.

    • Sluice Box: Larger operation using water flow to separate gold from lighter materials.

  • Vein Mining

    • Involving digging tunnels and shafts to extract gold from quartz.

    • More complex and costly, requiring careful structural support for tunnels.

Dahlonega Mint

  • History

    • Established in 1838 following significant local gold production.

    • Functioned until 1861, minting approximately $6,000,000 in gold coins.

    • Coins minted had a "D" mark indicating their origin.

  • Gold Production Stats

    • From Philadelphia mint: Nearly $1,800,000 worth of coins produced.

    • Total coins produced from both mints approached $8,000,000.

Trail of Tears

  • Forced Removal

    • Beginning in 1837, Cherokees gathered and moved to the West due to the Treaty of New Echota.

    • Estimated 15,000-17,000 Cherokees began this journey, with approximately 5,000 not surviving the harsh conditions.