Georgia History Lecture Notes

Before we dive into history, we have to talk about the land! Georgia is split into $5$ different "vibe" zones:

Appalachian Plateau: The smallest region in the northwest corner. Think of it as the "cool, rocky edge." It has Cloudland Canyon and is the only place in GA with coal.
Ridge and Valley: This area is full of long ridges and beautiful valleys. It’s famous for Dalton, the "Carpet Capital of the World."
Blue Ridge: This is where you go for mountain views and tourism. It has the highest point in Georgia, Brasstown Bald ( $4,784$ feet), and the start of the Appalachian Trail.
Piedmont: This is the most populated region (the "gossip hub"). It has the red clay we all know, and it’s where Atlanta is located. Most of GA’s business happens here!
Coastal Plain: The largest region (the "beachy agriculture zone"). It’s flat and perfect for farming crops like peanuts, peaches, and cotton. It’s divided into the Inner and Outer Coastal Plains.

The Fall Line: The "breakup line" where the Piedmont meets the Coastal Plain. It has lots of waterfalls, which used to power mills. Major cities like Augusta, Macon, and Columbus sit right on this line.
Okefenokee Swamp: The largest freshwater swamp in North America. It’s a total ecosystem vibe with alligators and unique plants.
Appalachian Mountains: These provide the rain for our state because they trap moisture!
Chattahoochee River: A major water source for Atlanta and our border with Alabama.
Savannah River: Our border with South Carolina and a huge spot for shipping and trade.
Barrier Islands: These islands protect the mainland from wind and erosion (like a shield for the coast).

King George II signed the Charter, letting $21$ Trustees run the colony for $21$ years.

The 3 Reasons:
1. Philanthropy: Helping the "worthy poor" get a fresh start.
2. Economics: Mercantilism! England wanted raw materials. They hoped for W.R.I.S.T. crops: Wine, Rice, Indigo, Silk, and Tobacco. (Silk was the main goal, but it didn't work out great).
3. Defense: Georgia was the "bodyguard" (buffer) protecting South Carolina from the Spanish in Florida.
The Rules (The "No List"): The Trustees were super strict. No Catholics, no lawyers, no booze (rum), and no slavery at first. This changed later when the "Malcontents" complained.

Hernando De Soto: The first European to explore GA. He was looking for the $3$ G’s (God, Gold, and Glory). He treated Native Americans very poorly and brought diseases that were not fetch at all.
Battle of Bloody Marsh: This was the ultimate showdown on St. Simons Island. Oglethorpe’s forces defeated the Spanish, which basically told Spain to "stay in Florida" and leave GA alone forever.

War Strategies: The North used the Anaconda Plan to squeeze the South by blocking ports. General Robert E. Lee led the South, but they were outnumbered in money and supplies.
The $3$ Reconstruction Amendments:
- $13^{th}$ : Slavery is banned! (Free!)
- $14^{th}$ : Everyone born here is a citizen! (Men!)
- $15^{th}$ : Black men get the right to vote! (Vote!)
- Memory Hack: Remember " $13, 14, 15$ = Free, Men, Vote!"
The Bourbon Triumvirate: Three powerful men (Brown, Colquitt, and Gordon) who wanted to bring industry to GA but also kept white supremacy alive.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt loved Georgia! He visited Warm Springs to help his polio because the water was like a spa treatment for him.

AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Act): Paid farmers to grow less so prices would go up. It helped landowners but unfortunately hurt black sharecroppers who didn't get the money.
REA (Rural Electrification Act): FDR noticed his neighbors in GA didn't have lights. This gave loans to bring electricity to farms. Total game changer!
Social Security: A safety net for the elderly and disabled so they always have cash.

William B. Hartsfield: The mayor who turned a race track into an airport. He was all about that "City Too Busy to Hate" brand.
Richard Russell & Carl Vinson: Two powerful GA politicians. Russell helped bring military bases to GA, and Vinson is the "Father of the Two-Ocean Navy." They made sure GA got lots of government money!
Agricultural Shift: After the war, machines like the cotton picker meant fewer people were needed on farms, so everyone moved to the city for a "city girl" lifestyle, leading to Atlanta's huge growth.