Georgia

Georgia shown in red

## History

The flag of Georgia

**Georgia**, officially known as **The State of Georgia**, is a nation and former state of the United States of America. It borders Florida to the south, South Carolina and the Atlantic ocean to the east, Alabama to the west, and Tennessee and North Carolina to the north.

## **Geography**

### **Physical Geography**

Georgia has an overall temperate climate, with a humid subtropical climate during the summers. It experiences all 4 seasons, though winters can be mild, with hot summers.

The fall line (which separates the Piedmont and Coastal Plain) is the boundary between the two very different landscapes of Georgia. South of the fall line, the land is very flat, and is at a very low elevation. It is also not uncommon to see large, slow-moving, winding rivers. North of the fall line, the elevation starts to increase, with the landscape being very hilly, and even mountainous when you reach the Blue Ridge region. You also can find faster, smaller rivers that provide vital water to the citizens of the Piedmont.

### **Political Geography**

Georgia is commonly split up into 5 regions; the Appalachian Plateau, Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and the Coastal Plain.

The majority of the state's population is located in the Piedmont (in the Atlanta Metropolitan area), with the rest being distributed among major cities in other regions such as Savannah, Augusta, Macon, and Columbus.

## **History**

### **Early History (c.13,000 BCE-1775 CE)**

Georgia was first inhabited by the Mississippian natives, more specifically, the South Appalachian Mississippian culture. They created advanced urban societies, notable for their earth structures earning them the name "Mound-builders".

When Hernando de Soto (Spanish conquistador and explorer) led an expedition deep into the modern-day southeastern United States in search of gold (1539-1542), he is often accredited with the "discovery" of Georgia (though natives had been living there for thousands of years prior.

Over the next century, the Spanish started setting up missions on the barrier islands of Georgia, hoping to convert the Native Americans there to Catholicism. Additional expeditions to the interior of present-day Georgia revealed most of the native population had been wiped out by disease.

Finally, near the end of the 1600s, English explorers and fur traders started to slowly move south from the Province of Carolina into modern-day Georgia.

With the Spanish having control of Spanish Florida, the British started to feel like their colonies were slowly being encroached upon, leading them to feel threatened. At the same time, James Oglethorpe (British Parliament Member) proposed that a new, 13th colony be created specifically to help the "worthy poor" in Britain. As British debtor prisons were being overcrowded, Oglethorpe suggested a this new colony could be a fresh start over for them. For these reasons, a 13th colony seemed very appealing.

On the 9th of June, 1732, Oglethorpe, and other trustees (men who supported him, and would help govern this colony) gained a royal charter for this new colony. The trustees sailed from Britain to this colony (named Georgia) and set up the 1st settlement by colonists in Georgia, the city of Savannah.

This society the trustees set up was an egalitarian one. Slavery, rum, and private purchase and sale of land were all prohibited. Religious freedom was also mostly accepted, but Judaism and Catholicism was frowned upon.

After the trustees had settled, the Spanish decided to try and invade this new colony during The War of Jenkins Ear. The only battle where they attempted this (The Battle of Bloody Marsh) was a great victory for the British, sending the Spanish back to Florida, and solidifying Georgia's place as a colony.

During the trustees reign, people became very unhappy with the policies that were put in place. Right across the Savannah River (which separated Georgia and South Carolina), Georgians could see the wealthy South Carolinian slave owners, with their large plantations. The trustees, in an attempt to keep everyone happy, legalized slavery in 1749, but the damage was already done. In 1752, the trustees lost control of Georgia as it became a royal colony, similar to the other 12. Oglethorpe hadn't really even succeeded in his original goal, as very few imprisoned debtors had moved to Georgia.

As a royal colony, Georgia functioned similarly to the other 12, as mass migration from South Carolina occurred (due to unclaimed land), which brought the customs of the other colonies to Georgia. Though through the royal system, Georgians had less say in their government (the trustees had allowed very open elections and such), they were just glad to have the rights the trustees had held from them.

### **The Revolutionary War (1775-1783)**

In 1765, with the passing of the Stamp Act tensions between the colonies and Britain increased more and more. During these times, growing senses of individual liberty and freedom started to fill the colonists, who were angry at the British and demanded "No taxation, without representation." Though the Georgian colonists didn't have too much against the British, they joined their fellow colonists in a sense of patriotism and freedom.

This situation finally culminated in 1775, during the first battles of the American Revolution (located in Lexington and Concord). This marked the beginning of the revolution for the colonies.

In Georgia, patriots North Georgia (Georgian colonists supporting independence, primarily found inland, far from the coast) raided ammunition strongholds and strategic positions in Savannah (and along the Atlantic coast, where loyalists were located), and pushed all British and loyalist forces out of Georgia with a single push.

In 1776, along with the other 12 colonies, Georgia declared it's independence from Britain, putting patriot forces in power of Georgia. Georgia's royal governor from before the war and up until his escape, James Wright, fled the colony along with some loyalists and soldiers to go back to Britain. As patriots marched into Savannah, Wright is quoted with saying, "Georgia will one day return to the hands of the king."

For 3 years, the patriots held onto the entirety of the colony, sending militia and troops to help out in other colonies help push the British out. Then, on December 29th, 1778, lookouts along the coast raced to report what they had just seen. A massive British fleet, heading straight towards Savannah.

It turns out, Wright kept his word. He lobbied support from the British government to retake Savannah, and successfully did so. With a convoy of dozens of ships, and thousands of British troops and loyalists, he was determined to take back Georgia as he had claimed.

The fighting was intense, but short. Patriots fired coastal guns at the incoming ships, and tried to defend Savannah, but quickly realized their actions were futile. As the British almost reached the shore, patriot forces evacuated Savannah, retreating with all valuable equipment and resources. As the British landed in Savannah, patriots retreated to the north of Georgia.

Over the next 3 years, the war in Georgia was one of little change. Patriot forces had set up north of the fall line, headquartered in Augusta, and joint British-loyalist forces had regained control of the south, headquartered in Savannah. This would be known as "The Two Georgias Conflict" (unofficially, North Georgia and South Georgia, as each side did not recognize each other). Patriot forces set up a strong defensive line along the fall line, giving them an elevation and tactical advantage. Occasional raids by loyalist and patriot forces occurred, but as the patriots had no way of countering the superior British army, it was essentially a stalemate.

On September 1st, 1781, a courier from George Washington's army arrived to the patriot forces. The message he carried told the patriot forces that a major offense was going to take place in Virginia to finally push the British out of the colonies. But for this to happen, the Georgian patriots would need to take back south Georgia, and the British stronghold of Savannah. Though at first seeming impossible, the patriots were told they would receive major naval support from the French, and some land support. So the plans were made, when Washington's forces would siege Yorktown, patriots in Georgia would take back Savannah.

On September 18th, all patriot forces in Georgia gathered along the fall line, then started their march south. For the first few days as they marched along the flatness of south Georgia, they encountered very little loyalist resistance. Though, on the 23rd, when the patriots reached the outskirts of Savannah, they noticed heavy loyalist and British fortifications in the city. Staying right outside the city, the patriots surrounded the city and started building siege positions outside the city. Additionally, French forces were arriving from the Louisiana territory behind the patriots. They were told the naval support would be there on the 28th. So on the 28th of September, 1781, the Siege of Savannah occurred. Patriot forces used cannons and artillery fire to try and subdue British forces in the city. French ships fired naval barrages inland, and tried to prevent British retreat. For 2 long weeks, cannonballs rained down on Savannah. Finally, on the morning of October 14th, a white flag was raised over Savannah. As patriot forces entered the city the remaining British troops fled the city, only to be escorted by the French Navy back to Britain. With patriot forces now in full control of Georgia, this marked the end of the American Revolution in Georgia.

### **Antebellum (1783-1861)**

**Articles of Confederation and the Constitution**

On July 24th, 1778, Georgia ratified the Articles of Confederation. This document created an official "confederation" between the 13 colonies, to form the United State of America. As it turns out, this document was not powerful enough to govern the colonies, giving too much power to the states, and not enough to the federal government.

**Founding of UGA**

**Invention of the Cotton Gin**

**Yazoo Land Fraud**

**The Dahlonega Gold Rush**

**Indian Removal**

### **The Civil War (1861-1865)**

**Capital Takeover**

**Battle of Chickamagua**

**Battle of Atlanta**

**March to Sea**

**Union Blockade**

**Andersonville Prison**

### **Turn of the Century and the Progressive Era (1900-Late 1920s)**

**The Case of Leo Frank**

**Progressive Movement**

## **Politics**

Georgia uses a constitutional republic and presidential democracy system of government like the former United States, where the public votes for a president independently of the legislature. It also adopted a similar bicameral legislature. Though the two chambers of the legislature are still referred to as the Senate and the House of Representatives, the overall legislature is the General Assembly.

### **Political Parties**

Though many of the citizens and government of Georgia can be described as center-right, competing political parties exist in the government, most notably the;

New Georgia Party: A democratic, moderate, center-right party. They seek mild progressive social reform, while still holding onto traditional values, while forging a new path for Georgia. Currently, it is the most popular party in Georgia with 32 seats in the senate, and 103 seats in the house.

Southern Revival Party: A fascist, extreme far-right party. They are a party located in many southern states with the goal of reuniting the south under one flag - the flag of the confederacy. Currently, it is the 2nd most popular party in Georgia with 15 seats in the senate, and 48 seats in the house.

   People's Coalition: A left-wing coalition of liberals, socialists, and communists in Georgia. Left-wing politics never gained much foothold in Georgia, so a coalition was created to better the chances of the party doing well. They want to expand the size of the government, expand the welfare and healthcare system, and promote equality of all. Currently, it is the 3rd most popular party in Georgia with 6 seats in the senate, and 10 seats in the house.

## **Military**

Georgia, contradictory to what many think, has an excellent and large infantry force, with some artillery. There are many great infantry bases around Georgia, such as Fort Benning, the biggest and one of the best infantry bases in the world, leading to Georgia having a skilled and capable infantry force. Due to this heavy focus, armor and motorized units have never been a focus of the Army.

Though Georgia has a slight presence in the air, it is mainly due to stockpiled biplanes from before the collapse of the United States. Recently, the government has decided to invest a little more in the form of Air Station Atlanta.

In a similar situation as the Air Force, the Georgian Navy is mainly a few destroyers and submarines from before the collapse of the United States. They do have a sizable convoy fleet, used for international trade. Though, the Savannah and Brunswick shipyards are gearing up to be major naval shipyards.

## **Economy**

Georgia has little in the way of industrial capacity, with its factories primarily going to supporting civilians, increasing infrastructure, and producing infantry weapons. Though, the Savannah and Brunswick shipyards are the pride of Georgia's industrial sector, able to produce many ships using their considerable amount of natural resources.

The bulk of Georgia's economy comes from its agricultural sector, which produces mass amounts of cash crops like cotton and tobacco for massive profit. It also produces substantial amounts of food for its citizens, limiting the amount of imports it needs.

Due to its agricultural industry and decent infrastructure, most of the advanced technology Georgia has is on the basic construction and civilian side of things. On the other hand, military technology has been limited to basic planes, ships, and tanks. As infantry is the main focus of the Georgian military, good infantry weapons and artillery have been researched.