Chapter 9Growth and Prosperity

National Growth

• In 1803 President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from the French.

• Called the Louisiana Purchase, this western land doubled the size of the United States.

• “Manifest Destiny” became a term used to mean that it was America’s Destiny manifested by God to spread all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

Manifest Destiny

Georgia’s Capital Cities

• Georgia has had five capitals (map page 138)–Savannah - 1733–Augusta - 1786–Louisville - 1796–Milledgevile - 1807–Atlanta - 1868

Why So Many Capitals?

• Georgia’s capital city moved to follow the growing population – north and west.

Higher Education in Georgia

In 1785, the nations first chartered state university was created. The University of Georgia in Athens.Abraham Baldwin was the first president of the University.

The Yazoo Land Fraud

• In 1795, land speculators tried to purchase large amounts of land in western Georgia.

• Land speculators are people who buy land cheap an try to sell it for a larger amount.

• Land speculation is not illegal.• However, these speculators bribed members of

Georgia’s General Assembly to sell them state land very cheaply – less than two cents an acre!

Yazoo Land Fraud

• Members of the government are not supposed to make decisions to benefit themselves.

• When the public found out, many of the legislators fled from Georgia in fear of death!

Two New States fromThe Yazoo Land

• The Yazoo Land, which is now Alabama and Mississippi, was sold to the U.S. government in 1802.

• Georgia received $1,250,000.00 for the land and the U.S. government promised to remove all Native Americans from Georgia.

Land Distribution

• By 1802, the Creek Indians were forced to give up land all the way to the Oconee River.

• After this, land in Georgia would be distributed by land lotteries, not the headright system.

• (See picture page 142)

Land Lotteries

• Land was divided into lots, and the size of the lot was based on the quality of the land.

• Lots in the pine barrens of south Georgia were 490 acres each, in the fertile Piedmont they were 202 and a half acres.

• When Georgia took the Cherokee land, lots were 160 acres each, but in the gold fields they were only 40 acres each.

Holding the Lottery

• A lottery is a drawing for a prize – in this case land.

• Who could participate?– White male U.S. citizens– Live in Georgia 12 months– 21 years old– Got one draw, with a wife or child, 2 draws– Widows and orphans could also enter– Winners were called fortunate drawers!

How did it Work?• People registered at their county courthouse

and their names were sent to the state capital.• The names were written on a piece of paper

and put in a barrel.• The numbered land lots were put in another

barrel.• At the same time a name and lot number was

drawn.• Winners were called fortunate drawers!

Industrial & Trade Centers

• Because water falls along the fall line provided water power, cities for trade and industry were built along the fall line.

• Columbus, Macon, and Augusta were the most important industrial and trade centers.

• Locate these cities on your map.

Railroads

• Railroads were first built in Georgia in 1830.• Because roads were so poor, the railroads

main purpose was to transport agricultural products from the center of the state to the rivers and cities for trade.

• The Western and Atlantic Railroad (W&A) was the most important railroad in Georgia.

Atlanta

• In 1838, the W&A Railroad marked the end of the line near the Chattahoochee River.

• A small town called Terminus was built there. Terminus means end.

• Terminus grew and was renamed Marthasville in 1845.

• In 1847, Marthasville was renamed Atlanta and became the center of railroad transportation in Georgia.