Georgia History
Beginning with its discovery by De Soto in 1540, Georgia has over 400 years of recorded history. However, it was not until 1732 that it was colonized by the British. James  Oglethorpe arrived on Georgia’s coast with 114 of what has been called “the most selectively chosen group of colonist to come to British North America”. There were businessmen, tradesmen and unemployed labors, but in an effort to create a colony void of temptation, any one of questionable repute, as well as attorneys and Catholics were not included. Slavery was prohibited. Unfortunately, the colonist soon discovered that many of the ideas they
had chosen for profit, were unsuccessful.
The colonist looked to the neighbors in South Carolina and noticed that commerce flourished as the planters there used slave labor to work their fields of rice and indigo. Consequently, by 1760 there were 15,000 slaves and 18,000 whites in Georgia. By the 1860’s, 6% of the white families owned a minimum of 20 slaves and they held over half of the states property value. Georgia’s remaining farmers owned less than 5 slaves and managed land areas of 100 acres or less.
The Civil War in Georgia
 If you ask a Georgian, why the state seceded from the Union, you will be told that it was for state rights. This is because many do not wish to give the answer of slavery. Ironically, most people believe that when Georgia seceded, they immediately joined the Confederacy. But in reality, it was not until 2 months later when southern leaders met in Montgomery, Alabama that Georgia became part of Confederate States of America.
Although many Georgians fought for the Confederate army, Georgia was not the site of many battles during the early stages of war. Rather, Georgia textiles mills and factories produced items needed to support the Southern troops. As Atlanta was in the center of the Confederacy, it was the most important transportation center in the South.
By 1863, things had changed for the worst for many Georgians. Many of those who had enlisted thinking that the war would be short lived, had realized that was not the case. Supplies for the troops, as well as their families back home, were in great demand. Many of the soldiers deserted and those who remained resorted to pillaging the struggling farms and fields they encountered. Unfortunately, things only got worse. In 1864, General William T. Sherman dealt devastating destruction on Atlanta, as he marched his Union troops toward Savannah. As war wrecked havoc across Georgia, many Georgian's lost their homes and their livelihood. Those who still had slaves would wake up one morning to discover that their slaves had slipped away during the night.
After the Civil War in Georgia
The years following the Civil War were difficult. Homes, businesses and towns needed to be rebuilt, yet there were limited financial resources. Due to the reconstruction of the banking system during the war, there were few banks available from which to borrow money for crops or farming. Consequently, many families began sharecropping. This allowed the farmer to borrow from the landowner based on the land’s value and the crops they were planting. The planters provided seeds, tools, and other necessities. Unfortunately, this was a flawed system. At settlement time, the planters often took excess dividends, leaving the sharecropper with little to live on. However, sharecropping did result in a temporary teaming of bi-racial farmers. This alliance became part of the Populist Party with Tom Watson as one of its strongest leaders.
New South-New Deal
The 1870’s and 1880’s introduced citizens to a new attitude. Atlanta Constitution editor, Henry Grady, urged the country to quit focusing on what they had lost, and get busy doing something about it. As people rallied to this  philosophy, a New South emerged. By the early 1900’s, Georgia showed minimal prosperity. Atlanta's industry was growing but the rest of the state was struggling, due to droughts and boll weevils that destroyed the crops.
Georgia, like the rest of the country, suffered greatly during the Depression. When in 1936 Eurith D. “Ed” Rivers was elected governor many Georgians were ready to accept President Roosevelt’s New Deal. The New Deal provided relief and assistance programs bringing relief to many Georgian families. When WWII began, Georgia became more prosperous as military bases opened and manufactures were producing airplanes, ships, and weapons.
The City Too Busy to Hate
 Almost 100 years after the Civil War, many African-Americans still suffered due to segregation. In 1960, when many Southern cities were dealing with riots and sit-ins, while Atlanta, Athens and other Georgian cities were more peaceful. When sit-ins or campaigns were started, businesses and public officials worked quickly to reach a compromise so everyone could get back to work. Consequently, Atlanta was dubbed, “The City Too Busy to Hate”.
Modern Times in Georgia
In 1971, then Georgia governor Jimmy Carter announced “racial discrimination is over”. During his leadership business increased, school funding increased and the state’s prisons were remodeled. By 1977, he had left the governor’s mansion in exchange for the White House. However, while he was in Washington, many farmers exchanged open fields for metro Atlanta and by 1990, Atlanta was home to more than 40% of the state’s population.
Today, Atlanta is headquarters to several corporations and in 1996, Atlanta hosted the Summer Olympic Games. There are numerous shopping centers, high rise hotels, and five star eateries, but that does not mean that Georgia has lost its southern charm. Not sure? Then pack your bags for a taste of hometown hospitality—Georgia style and enjoy some excellent Georgia travel.
Atlanta History Center
To learn about Atlanta and appreciate its history and culture, then a visit to the Atlanta History Center is a must! The AHC, located in the Buckhead district of Atlanta, was founded in 1926 and is one best history museums in America. It has 6 permanent exhibits as well as historic houses and gardens. The AHC frequently host traveling exhibits as well as temporary displays.
If you are a student of Civil War history, then you will find the AHC a valuable resource. The center’s 10,000 square foot Turning Point: The American Civil exhibition focuses on the Atlanta Campaign and showcases over 1,400 items. Some of the items on display are weaponry, uniforms and personal gear, and memorabilia from Confederate and Union soldiers.
After the 1996 Olympic Games, a special area was designated to spotlight Olympians. The Centennial Olympic Museum is divided into two areas, the Sports Lab and the “artifacts” area. In the Sports lab, you can try your hand at matching Olympic records. In the artifacts area, you will learn about the Olympics and have the opportunity to test you Olympic knowledge on a 12 part test.
Other attractions include the Metropolitan Frontiers exhibit which shows Atlanta’s progress from rural region, transportation Center, Commercial City and Suburban Metropolis, the Shaping Traditions display which shows the development of Southern art and music, the Down the Fairway exhibit gives the story of Georgia’s most famous golfer, Bobby Jones and the Phillip Trammell Shutze display tells how he became one of Atlanta’s leading architects. The Swan House, designed by Shutze, is owned by the AHC.
Photo Credits: Atlanta Skyline by coka koehler |
