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1540
Hernando de Soto
Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who participated in the conquests of Central America and Peru and discovered the Mississippi River. He is significant to Georgia history because he eventually reached Southern Georgia and is known for being the first European to explore Georgia. -
Founding of Georgia colony
James Oglethorpe came from England to Savannah and wanted to set up a new colony to provide a way for poor honest men to avoid debt and prison and be able to live a good life. Oglethorpe's idea was approved by the rest of the 20 trustees and King George II. Therefore the Georgia colony was established in Savannah in 1733. This is important because it was the beginning of Georgia's history. -
French and Indian War
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Georgia joins the Continental Congress
Georgia joined the Second Provincial Congress in Savannah, Georgia. There they elected officials to attend the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is significant for Georgia History because it is when Georgia chose to join the Revolutionary War and fight for their freedom from Britain. -
Battle of the Rice Boats
The arrival of British warships in the Savannah River caused the first
revolutionary crisis in Georgia. The local militia reacted by setting the Inverness on fire and sending it downstream. Their purpose was not to take over Savannah but to capture rice for profit. This event is significant because Governor Wright had to stay safe and led him to miss the next provincial congress in Augusta, Georgia. -
Declaration of Independence
The United States Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It announced and explained separation from Great Britain. -
Battle of Saratoga
This battle occurred during the second year of the American Revolution. It included two crucial battle and was won by America. It is significant because it was a crucial turning point in the Revolutionary War. -
UGA
The University of Georgia was the first college in Georgia. It is located in Athens, Georgia and was segregated at first and then became an integrated school. It is significant because it was the first state-chartered public university in the United States. -
Ratification of the United States Constitution
The U.S. Constitution is important to the entirety of the United States as it creates the branches of government and gives them the power to govern. The constitution also protects Georgians and U.S. citizens alike and guarantees their basic rights. -
Cotton Gin
US Inventor Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. It is a machine that revolutionized the production of cotton by speeding up the process of removing seeds from the cotton fiber. It is significant because Eli Whitney began on the project of the cotton gin after moving to Georgia. The cotton gin also had a huge impact of Georgia's economic and population growth. -
Louisiana Purchase
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Land Lottery System
Between 1805 and 1832, the state of Georgia conducted eight land lotteries. The purpose of the system was to have public lands in the interior of the state be dispersed to small yeoman farmers. This has significance because it first land lottery and it was in Georgia. -
War of 1812
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Battle of Beaver Dams
The Battle of Beaver Dams took place during the War of 1812. An American column marched from Fort George and attempted to surprise a British outpost at Beaver Dams, billeting themselves overnight in the village of Queenston, Ontario. The British and Native forces defeated the US forces. -
Georgia Gold Rush
The Georgia Gold Rush was the second significant gold rush in the United States and the first in Georgia. This is important because it provided Georgia's government the possession of the Cherokee land. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 consists of five laws passed in 1850 that dealt with the issue of slavery and territorial expansion. -
Battle of New Orleans
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Battle of Fort Sumter
Beginning on April 12, 1861, Confederate guns around Charleston Harbor opened fire on Fort Sumter. Fort Sumter was bombarded and was the beginning of The American Civil War. -
American Civil War
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Georgia's Secession
Georgia officially adopted an Ordinance of Secession. It was the fifth state to secede from the Union. This is significant because secession brought war and ultimately ended slavery. -
Battle of Gettysburg
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Battle of Chickamauga
The first major battle in Georgia was a at the Battle of Chickamauga. The battle was between U.S. and Confederate forces in the American Civil War. It marked the end of the Chickamauga Campaign, in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia. -
Reconstruction Era
The Reconstruction era was the period in US history that lasted from 1863 to 1877. It followed the American Civil War and is a significant chapter in the history of American civil rights. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
Union General William T. Sherman led about 60,000 soldiers on a march from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia from November 15 until December 21, 1864. It was a military campaign of the American Civil War. Sherman's March to the Sea was to frighten Georgia's civilian population into abandoning the Confederate cause. -
Battle of Atlanta
This was a battle of the Atlanta Campaign fought during the American Civil War. It is important because of its location and commercial importance. Atlanta, Georgia was used as a center for military operations and as a supply route by the Confederate army during the Civil War. Therefore, it also became a target for the Union army. -
Siege of Petersburg, VA
The Siege of Petersburg, Va was formerly known as Richmond–Petersburg campaign. It was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, which were fought from June 15, 1864, to April 2, 1865, during the American Civil War. -
Jim Crow Laws
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Capital of Georgia
The post-war Constitutional Convention of 1867-68 voted to relocate the capital of Georgia from Milledgeville to Atlanta. IT is significant because Georgia is known for Atlanta all over the world. -
14th Amendment
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15th Amendment
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Georgia readmitted to Union
On July 15, 1870, Georgia became the last former Confederate state to be readmitted into the Union after agreeing to seat some black members in the state Legislature. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
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Juvenile Court
The first juvenile court in the US was established in Chicago in 1899. This is significant to Georgia because in 1906, the Georgia legislature established legal grounds for a children's court. The first juvenile court in Georgia was established in Fulton County in 1911. Today, every county in Georgia has a juvenile court. -
Atlanta Massacre of 1906
The Atlanta Massacre of 1906 was an attack by armed mobs of white Americans against African Americans in Atlanta, Georgia. It began the evening of September 22 and lasted through September 24, 1906. It was significant because dozens of Georgians were killed. -
Georgia Compulsory Attendance Law
This Georgia law was created for students ages 6 to 16 to be required to attend school for at least four months out of the year. This event is important to Georgia because it is a step to assure students are receiving education. -
Great Atlanta fire
The Great Atlanta Fire began just after noon on 21 May 1917 in the Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta, Georgia. It is unclear just how the fire started, but it was fueled by hot temperatures and strong winds which propelled the fire. -
19th Amendment
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boll weevil
The cotton industry was experiencing a severe depression as crop losses from the boll weevil. This is significant to Georgia history because Georgia's crop losses were 45%. -
New Deal
The New Deal was enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to respond to needs for relief, reform, and recovery from the Great Depression. The New Deal included a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations. -
1936 Tupelo
The 1946 Tupelo was a tornado outbreak of at least 17 tornadoes that struck the Southeastern United States from April 5–6, 1936. It struck around 6 states. This outbreak is significant because it is the fourth deadliest ever recorded in US history. -
Gainesville, GA Tornado
The Gainesville, Ga tornado destroyed many homes in Gainesville, Ga. There were about 203 people killed. This tornado is significant because it was a part of the Tupelo Tornado outbreak which is the fourth deadliest ever recorded in US history. -
The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
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Brown vs. Board of Education
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Lake Lanier
Lake Lanier is man-made lake was created to manage navigation and flood control from the Chattahoochee River and to supply water for residents in the city of Atlanta. This lake is significant to Georgia because it provides 5.7 million Georgians with water supply. -
The Albany Movement
The Albany Movement began in 1961 and ended in 1962. It was the first civil rights movement. It resulted in the jailing of 1,000 African Americans. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." -
March on Washington
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was in Washington, D.C. It was a massive protest march that aimed to draw attention to the continuous challenges and inequalities faced by African Americans. It was important because Martin Luther King, Jr from Atlanta Georgia gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Kent State Shooting
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Jimmy Carter the 39th President
James Earl Carter Jr. served as the 39th President from 1977-1981.This is important because he has been the first and the only Georgian to be elected as the President of the USA. -
Great Flood of 1993
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1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics was hosted in Atlanta, Georgia. It was an international multi-sport event that was held from July 19 to August 4, 1996. It provided Atlanta many opportunities such as jobs and an economic boost for Georgia. -
September 11 Attack
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Atlanta Protest
Due to Georgia Floyd's killing it initiated protest in Georgia. The protest became riots which caused National guards to be enforced. -
George Floyd Killing
George Perry Floyd Jr. was an African American man killed during an arrest after a store clerk. A white police officer named Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for a period initially reported to be 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Many protest, marhes riots were caused.
