Summer Series: 50 States - Georgia

GEORGIA

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The last colony formed became the fourth state in the Union (on January 2, 1788).  Georgia (abbreviation: GA) was founded by James Edward Oglethorpe in the 1730s as a buffer between South Carolina and her enemies.  When we learned about Florida, we read that Georgia attacked Florida.  On July 7, 1742, Georgians, led by Oglethorpe, defeated the Spanish at the Battle of Bloody Marsh.

Georgia was named for King George II of England.  When Georgia gained independence from England in 1776, the new revolutionary government made Savannah the capital.  During the war, fights broke out between Georgia's citizens as some were revolutionaries, Whigs, and some were loyal to the King, Tories.  There were a lot of lives lost during the War for Independence, and a lot of physical damage occurred as well.  The capital moved to Augusta in 1783 so that it could be closer to the center of the state.  Just two years later, a new capital was built farther west, Louisville.  An act of Georgia's congress in 1804 moved the capital to Milledgeville.  This city remained the capital for 61 years.

As the Civil War loomed on the horizon, Georgia became the fifth state to secede from the Union; this occurred on January 19, 1861.  The most devastating destruction during the War occurred in 1864 when General William Tecumseh Sherman advanced on and captured Atlanta and then made his way through Savannah during his March to the Sea.  Almost 120,000 men from Georgia were killed during the Civil War, and a great deal of wealth was lost.  Reconstruction took decades.  During the early part of the 20th century, Georgia made slow economic strides.  World War II brought an end to the hardships in this state.  There were many military bases, shipyards, and manufacturing plants set up in Georgia.  The population grew, and the economy flourished.

Georgia is now the 10th most populous state.  It is the 24th biggest by area.  The highest point in Georgia is 4,784 feet, and here you will find the Chattahoochee River.  Some interesting things to see on a visit are Stone Mountain Park, the World of Coca-Cola, Rock City, and Margaret Mitchell House and Museum.  In Stone Mountain Park, you can see the largest relief sculpture in the world.  It is called the Confederate Memorial Carving and includes President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee, and General "Stonewall" Jackson.  It is carved into the side of a huge rock 400 feet above the ground, and its dimensions are 90 x 190 feet.  In Rock City, you can see seven states from Lookout Mountain.  Georgia is also home to one of the most famous golf clubs in the world - Augusta National Golf Club.

Some famous Georgians are Ben Bernanke who has been the chairman of the Federal Reserve System since 2006; President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981); his wife Rosalynn Carter; Ray Charles who was a singer/songwriter; Ty Cobb, baseball player; Jeff Foxworthy, comedian; Doc Holliday; Martin Luther King, Jr.; Director Spike Lee; Ty Pennington of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition; and Jackie Robinson, another famous baseball player.  These folks are just a few of at least 103 famous people born in Georgia.

This state has two nicknames: Empire State of the South and Peach State.  The motto is "Wisdom, Justice, & Moderation."  Georgia has had at least three flags in its history.  The newest one was designed and put into use in 2003.  It replaced the previous flag which was used from 2001 to 2003.  The flag before that was based off of the Confederate flag.  This was no longer used because it was offensive to many citizens.  The flag below is the one used currently.

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Georgia's state bird is the Brown thrasher, and the state marine mammal is the right whale.  The honey bee is the state insect, and the Gopher tortoise is the state reptile.  The fish is the Largemouth bass, and the fossil is the Megalodon tooth.  The state flower is the Cherokee rose, and the state tree is the Live Oak.

There are some fun online activities for kids to learn more about Georgia and test their knowledge here.

Allow me to share some books that might be of interest to you as you study Georgia.  I am an affiliate with Christianbook.com  If you purchase any of these items, I will receive a small percentage.

Voices from Colonial America: Georgia 1629-1776 By Robin Doak / Random House, Inc The history of Georgia as a colony, up to independence gained from the Revolutionary War, this thorough book is a treat to look through and read. Cream-colored pages offset traditional fonts and light green chapter headings; two-tone and full-color illustrations are included throughout. Children will learn about the Spanish era in Georgia, the Native Americans who lived there, new immigrants, the war to make Georgia a British colony, the end of the "Noble Experiment", the beginnings of slavery in Georgia, and the approval of the US Constitution. 109 pages, indexed, hardcover with dust jacket. Ages 10-14.

Civil War Sites in Georgia By Jim Miles / Rutledge Hill Press

Uniquely Georgia By Larry Bograd / Heinemann Raintree

Georgia Big Activity Book, Grades K-5 By Gallopade International For when you're embarking on a visit or upon your state studies, The Big Georgia Reproducible Activity Book will fulfill your wishes for a fun and educational way to learn state facts! With worksheets on Georgia history, geography, presidents, people, places, legends, and much more, you'll get a thorough introduction to what makes this state unique. Crosswords, dot-to-dots, mazes, coloring, word jumbles, writing, hidden pictures and other fun activities will make your students want to learn more and more! Great for review and research. 96 reproducible pages, softcover. Answers are printed upside down at the bottom of the page. Ages 7-11.

Martin Luther King, Jr. By Amy Pastan / DK Publishing Inc. This vivid photographic biography seamlessly melds the story of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life with photographs showcasing the injustices done by Jim Crow Laws, King's life and family, the massive protests and the movements that came after his life. Definition boxes clarify unfamiliar words, and an illustrated timeline is also included. Over 100 photos, 126 pages with index. Softcover.

Free At Last: The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. By Angela Bull / DK Children Read about the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., in this biography for children. From his childhood, up to his death, this biography is filled with rich vocabulary and challenging sentence structure for proficient readers. Children will learn about the Civil Rights Movement and King's efforts to bring equality to all in America.  This Level 4 DK Reader is designed to help proficient readers with its rich vocabulary, challenging sentence structure, additional information, glossary, and index.

Jackie Robinson By Coughlan Publishing Discover the life of Jackie Robinson in this Photo-Illustrated Biography! Photographs and clear text highlight the most important aspects of his life, including his breaking of the baseball "color line." 24 pages with index, paperback. Ages 4-8.

Gift of Peace: The Jimmy Carter Story By Elizabeth Raum / Zondervan When Jimmy Carter was a boy, he listened to his parents talk about local politics and watched them live out their Baptist faith in the community. From the fields of his family farm to traveling the world negotiating peace talks, God guided every step of Jimmy's journey. His unwavering devotion to peace and faith helped him navigate the political waters of the governorship and presidency. Discover the extraordinary life of this world-famous humanitarian and follow in the footsteps of this incredible man of God. This last book is almost $45.  I include it because, as I read its description, I was intrigued.  You may be, too.  Perhaps it can be found elsewhere for a cheaper price.

God's Capitalist: Asa Candler of Coca-Cola By Kathryn Kemp / Mercer Press Can a rich man enter heaven? Asa Candler, who was a very rich man, thought so. He accepted the principle of Christian stewardship, which holds that God gives wealth to individuals in order to promote His kingdom on earth. Candler thus felt obligated to protect and build the fortune that he held as a sacred trust and to use it to carry out God's purposes in the world. God's Capitalist: Asa Candler of Coca-Cola is an examination of the life of an entrepreneur who saw his personal wealth as a divine trust to be used to the benefit of humanity. Today, people remember Asa Candler for his part in founding The Coca-Cola company and beginning that product's phenomenal success, but he also was successful in real estate development and in banking. His interests made him one of the richest men in the early twentieth-century South. His sense of duty led to his support of many undertakings of the Southern Methodist Church. Advised by his brother Warren, a Bishop in that denomination, Asa wrote a million dollar check to finance the establishment of the Emory University in Atlanta, where young men would be prepared for the ministry. Throughout his life, Candler made gifts and loans to encourage the well-being of his denomination, his city, and his state. At the end of his life, he had given away his entire fortune. Despite his wealth and reputation, he was opposed by those who did not share his point of view, which was primarily shaped by his religion and his social position among Atlanta's elite. The last decade of his life was filled with sadness and difficulties, as he mourned the loss of his beloved wife and fought numerous court battles. By following Asa Candler's life, readers have a unique opportunity to visit Atlanta during one of the most critical times in its development, and to see it through the eyes of one of Atlanta's "movers and shakers". DISCLAIMER: I am an affiliate with Christianbook.com.  Any purchases made through my blog will provide me with a commission as an affiliate.