GA Milestones Vocabulary for 8th Grade Social Studies

first European in Georgia; Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition through the southeastern U.S. in search of gold; many Mississippian Indians died of disease and violence

Creek Indian woman who served as the translator for James Oglethorpe and Yamacraw Chief Tomochichi

established the colony of Georgia; signed the Treaty of Savannah in 1733 with Tomochichi to build the town of Savannah; recruited Salzburgers and Highland Scots to Georgia

Was the chief of the Yamacraw Indians. Tomochichi befriended James Oglethorpe and allowed him to establish the colony of Georgia on Yamacraw territory

Lieutenant Colonel of patriot forces who led the victory at the Battle of Kettle Creek

second oldest Native American culture in Georgia; nomadic hunters who hunted smaller game; credited with developing grooved axes, fish hooks, and pottery

the first humans in Georgia; nomadic hunters and gatherers who hunted large game such as wooly mammoth and giant bison

the third prehistoric Native American culture in Georgia; credited for the development of the bow and arrow, pottery for storage, and intensification of horticulture, as well as building small mounds

the last major prehistoric Native American culture in Georgia; known for being large scale farmers and mound builders who traded throughout North America

From the Highlands of Scotland and known as some of the best fighters in Europe in the 1700s. James Oglethorpe brought a group to Georgia to serve as soldiers for the colony. The Highland Scots founded the town of Darien

A group of colonists who complained about the trustee regulations for the Georgia colony; primary complaints were the ban on slavery and rum. Eventually the malcontents got their way as liquor and slavery were allowed in Georgia in the 1750s

Governors appointed by the English Monarch to run a colony. Georgia had three royal governors. They were John Reynolds, Henry Ellis, and James Wright

A group of Protestants from Austria who were invited to settle in Georgia due to religious persecution they were experiencing in Europe; established the towns of Ebenezer and New Ebenezer; were some of the most successful colonists

A group of 21 men who established the colony of Georgia. Of the group, only one, James Oglethorpe, came to the colony

slave who fought and was wounded at the Battle of Kettle Creek; awarded his freedom and a land grant by the state for his heroics

Signers of the Declaration of Independence from Georgia

Georgia Revolutionary War frontierswoman whose heroic actions led to the naming of a Georgia county in her honor

Colonists who were loyal to Great Britain; also known as Tories

Colonists who wanted to become independent from Great Britain

invented a machine (cotton gin) in 1793 that quickly removed seeds from the cotton fibers

seventh president of the United States who was an advocate of Indian Removal

Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court who ruled in favor of the Cherokee in the Worcester vs. Georgia case; President Andrew Jackson refused to enforce Supreme Court's ruling

Creek Chief who signed the Treaty of New York ending the Oconee War with Georgia settlers and ceding the Creeks' lands east of the Oconee River to the state government of Georgia

Creek chief who illegally signed the Second Treaty of Indian Springs; was murdered by his tribesmen for his actions

Principal Chief of the Cherokee Indians who tried to use legal means to fight against removal

inventor of the Cherokee Syllabary written language

Supreme Court ruling in 1857 that declared slaves were not citizens of the United States and were considered property by their owners

Union General; led a military campaign to capture Atlanta; also led the March to the Sea to Savannah to weaken the Confederacy

important Georgia politician who was a U.S. Senator, Georgia Governor, and Vice-President of the Confederate States of America (C.S.A)

Elected president in 1860 as an abolitionist; created the Emancipation Proclamation; gave the Gettysburg Address; preserved the Union during the Civil War; developed the Presidential Reconstruction Plan; assassinated after the Civil War

African-American Georgia Legislator during the Reconstruction Period. He and 26 other black legislators were denied their seats in the General Assembly because of racism

Christians from two of the largest Protestant denominations in Georgia that grew and spread rapidly during the 1790s-1830s in the South

Native American Tribe that lived in southern Georgia; removed from the state through a series of treaties, such as the Treaty of New York and the Treaty of Indian Springs

Native American tribe that lived in northwestern Georgia; relocated to Oklahoma after signing the Treaty of New Echota, remaining Cherokees were forcefully removed during the Trail of Tears

White supremacist organization created to intimidate and prevent freedmen, carpetbaggers, scalawags, and Radical Republicans from gaining economic, social, and political power in the South

Group of Northern Republicans who wanted to punish the Southern states and to ensure civil rights for African-Americans. They supported Congressional Reconstruciton

Name given to Southern Democrats who regained power in Georgia after Reconstruciton, beginning a new age of white supremacy in the South; the Bourbon Triumvirate

Farmers who agreed to work on a landowner's property in exchange for land, farming equipment, and seed; sharecroppers were required to provide the landowner with a share of the crop

Farmers who agreed to work on a landowner's property who were required to provide the landowner with a share of the crop; unlike sharecroppers, tenant farmers owned their own farming equipment

Georgia signers of the U.S. Constitution; Baldwin's key vote created the Great Compromise during the 1787 Constitutional Convention

Three powerful politicians (Joseph E. Brown, Alfred H. Colquitt, and John B. Gordon) who dominated Georgia politics for over 20 years

civil rights leader who fought for immediate social and political rights for African-Americans; founder of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)

Georgia writer, political activist, social reformer, segregationist, and first female U.S. senator who supported women's suffrage (the right to vote for women)

editor for the Atlanta Journal newspaper who promoted the concept of "New South"; persuaded northern investors to rebuild Atlanta and the Georgia economy

former slave, sharecropper, barber, owner of rental houses, and founder of the Atlanta Mutual Life insurance company. A symbol of economic success for African-Americans

an important educator, civil rights leader, and social reformer; president of Morehouse and Atlanta University; member of the NAACP, husband of Lugenia Hope

community organizer, reformer, and social activist; supported women's voting rights and educational opportunities for African-Americans; wife of John Hope

Northern Jewish pencil factory manager was accused of murdering 13 year old Mary Phagan; found guilty of the crime and sentenced to death, his sentence was later reduced to life due to additional evidence. However, a group of men took Frank out of his prison cell and lynched him in Marietta

A short lived political party (1892-1908) made up of rural farmers that supported agricultural and were against the New South movement and industrialization. Georgian Tom Watson was a leader and presidential candidate for the party

Key member of the U.S. Supreme Court case that established the separate but equal doctrine, thus promoting segregation

educator, author, political activist, and orator; promoted the idea that African-Americans should pursue economic and educational endeavors before seeking social and political equality. Gave the famous Atlanta Compromise speech at the international Cotton Exposition

lawyer, writer, and Populist Party politician from Georgia; most well-known for his rural free delivery bill; was very outspoken and against the New South movement. Ended his career as an ardent segregationist and anti-Semite; died while serving a term as U.S. senator from Georgia

four time Georgia governor that fought against Roosevelt's New Deal policies; was a strict segregationist; the "three governor's controversy" began after his death following his election as governor in 1946

32nd president of the United States; created many New Deal programs during the Great Depression; had close ties to Georgia and died at his Georgia home, "The Little White House," in Warm Springs

known as the "father of the two ocean navy"; brought shipyards to Savannah and Brunswick; Georgia Congressman who was an advocate for a strong U.S. military; served 25 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, making him the longest serving Congressmen in U.S. history

Georgia governor and influential long term U.S. senator. Responsible for bringing many military bases to Georgia; School Lunch Program; the CDC; but was also a segregationist who opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964

progressive Georgia governor who is credited for restoring accreditation to the state's colleges and universities, lowering the voting age, and abolishing the poll tax

mayor of Atlanta who was instrumental in the development of the city, bringing major league sports teams to Atlanta, and a key figure in the civil rights movement

Atlanta's longest serving mayor who was instrumental in bringing an airport to the city and worked with civil rights leaders during the civil rights movement

the first African-American male to integrate the University of Georgia

the first African-American female to integrate the University of Georgia

first African-American mayor of a major southern city (Atlanta); would also help bring the Olympic Games to Atlanta; expanded the Atlanta airport

important civil rights leader during the Montgomery bus boycott, march on Washington, "I Have a Dream" speech, and Civil Rights Act; winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Use of non-violence and civil disobedience improved the rights of African Americans in the U.S.

segregationist business owner of the Pickrick Cafe; the last segregationist governor in Georgia; however, desegregated the Georgia Highway Patrol and other state departments

Civil rights activist, president of Morehouse College, and mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who taught him the principles of non-violent protest and civil disobedience from Gandhi.

Civil rights organization by college students that urged non-violent protests to gain integration; the group became more militant in the late 1960s

segregationist Georgia Governor and U.S. senator; son of governor Eugene Talmadge. Won a special election during the "Three Governor's Controversy"

Lieutenant Governor of Georgia who was part of the "Three Governor's Controversy" in 1946. Lost a special election to Herman Talmadge to become governor of Georgia

important civil rights leader who served as a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and Mayor of Atlanta; was also instrumental in bringing the 1996 Olympic Games to Atlanta

only United States President from Georgia; also a Georgia state senator and governor; winner of the Nobel Peace Prize

Communities that are made up of immigrants from the same country or those that speak the same language; they help the local economy by providing labor, jobs, and paying taxes

people who take the risks of opening their own business with the main incentive of wanting to make a profit. Coca-Cola, Home Depot, Georgia-Pacific, and Delta are examples of companies founded by entrepreneurs

legal residents that have guaranteed rights protected by the Georgia and U.S. Constitutions, but also have responsibilities like paying taxes, obeying laws, serving on a jury, and voting

A representative whose role is to promote the interest of the Governor on the house floor

A politician elected by members (constituents) of their district; they represent the political views of the people when passing legislation (laws). There are State Legislators and U.S. Legislators

A member of the Georgia House of Representatives; must be 21 years of age, a resident of Georgia and their district for two years, and a U.S. citizen

A member of the Georgia Senate; must be 25 years of age, a resident of Georgia and their district for two years, and a U.S. citizen.

Leader who is responsible for making sure members of his or her party vote for bills and agendas that the majority party favors

Leader who is responsible for making sure members of his or her party vote for bills and agendas that the minority party favors

Presiding officer of the House of Representatives who is voted by members of the House

Head of the executive branch responsible for overseeing the departments of the executive branch

Second highest office of the executive branch; presides over the Georgia senate and takes the role of the governor if the governor leaves the state; will take over the office if the governor dies of is impeached

Person or group being charged for a wrong doing (suspect); or a person being sued by a plaintiff

A minor 17 years of age or younger who has been charged with wrong-doing

A group of citizens who look over evidence to determine if a suspect should be charged with a crime

A group of citizens who examine evidence and hear testimony during a trial to determine if a suspect is guilty or not guilty of a crime

members of the Supreme Court who are selected by popular vote (elected) to serve six year terms

A minor who lives under the custody of parent/guardian/state

A group of individuals that have the power to adopt ordinances and oversee the daily operations of a county's government

An individual hired by a city government who is responsible for running the day to day operations for the city

An individual who has the power to adopt ordinances and oversee the daily operations of a county's government

A group of individuals elected by citizens to vote of legislation, city budgets, and appoint department heads. Their power is weak or strong depending on the type of mayor-council system

An individual acting as the city's chief executive officer, administering the city's budget, and vetoing legislation passed by the city council. The mayor's power is determined by the type of mayor-council system

A law enforcement agent who decides if there is enough evidence to bring a charge against a juvenile

Economic policy focused on exporting more than importing; colonies shipping raw materials to the mother country of England

Churches set up by the Spanish in hopes of converting Native Americans to Christianity

(July 7, 1742) the decisive battle during the War of Jenkins Ear where the Georgia colonists stopped a Spanish invasion of St. Simmons Island. After the battle, Spain never attacked Georgia again

One of the three reasons for Georgia's founding. The English hoped that Georgia would be able to produce wine, rice, silk, and indigo

One of the three reasons for Georgia's founding. James Oglethorpe and the Trustees hoped to bring debtors and England's "worthy poor" to the colony to begin new lives

The document that formally established the colony of Georgia; outlines the reasons for Georgia's founding and the regulations set up by the Trustees

One of the reasons for Georgia's founding was to create a "buffer colony" to protect from Spanish Florida

war between England and France for control of North America. The English won the war and gained a large area of North America from the French, but forced the American colonists to pay taxes to pay down to war debt, which became a cause of the American Revolution

Used in the production of silk. The silk worms were placed on the trees and used the leaves as food. The Georgia colonists were required to set aside a portion of their land to grow the trees

The royal period in Georgia beginning in 1752 after the Trustees gave authority of the colony to the king. The royal period lasted until the Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution in 1783

Time period when Georgia was governed by the Trustees. The Trustees created many regulations (rules), including a ban on slavery, liquor, lawyers, and Catholics

(February 14, 1779) A small Revolutionary War battle in Georgia where Patriot forces, led by Elijah Clarke, defeated 600 Loyalists; one of the few Patriot victories in the state

Three part document that discusses natural rights, explains the wrongs committed by King George, and offers an official declaration of independence from England

Acts the British Parliament designed to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party; [1] closing Boston Harbor, [2] outlawing patriot groups and town hall meetings, [3] trials in British courts, [4] Quartering Act (colonists required to house and feed British soldiers)

Royal proclamation that forbade English colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains

A failed attempt by the French and Americans to recapture Savannah during the Revolutionary War

a tax on all legal documents, newspapers, and other paper products; one of the first direct taxes placed on the colonies by the British Government causing much protest amongst the colonies

The first written constitution of the United States that united the colonies (states) together to fight against the British; after the Revolutionary War, the many weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation made it necessary for the states to hold a Constitutional Convention to revise the Articles

A meeting that took place in Philadelphia from May to September 1787; original intent was to revise the Articles of Confederation, but was soon scrapped and a new and improved constitution was written

Georgia's first state constitution; established three branches of government and basic liberties, though the executive and judicial branch had limited powers

A compromise made between the large and small states during the Constitutional convention; allowed for a two house legislative branch with the number of senators for each state being equal (2 per state) and the number of members of the House of Representatives being based on the state's population

A compromise made between slave and free states during the Constitutional Convention; North and South agreed that a slave would count as 3/5 of a person in a state's population

A one house legislature. Under the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. legislative branch was unicameral

A two house legislature. The legislative branch has two houses (House of Representatives and Senate)

A plan proposed by delegates from Virginia during the Constitutional Convention that favored representation based on a state's population in the U.S. legislative branch

A plan at the Constitutional Convention that favored a unicameral house with each state having the same number of delegates in Congress in order to have equal representation regardless of state size

Religious and social gatherings used by the Methodist and Baptist churches to recruit members. Methodist ministers traveled from town to town to preach; were instrumental in recruiting converts

Machine invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 that quickly removed seeds from the cotton fibers

Site of America's first gold rush in 1828; discovery of gold in the area led to the Cherokee removal

Land distribution that provided the head of the family up to 200 acres of free land in the Georgia frontier

An act signed by Andrew Jackson that required the removal of the Cherokee to Indian Territory in the West

Land distribution system that gave the average Georgian a chance to buy land at pennies on the dollar

to make legally null and void; cancellation of federal law

South Carolina attempted to make null and void to National Tariff of 1832. As tensions increased, South Carolina threatened secession and Andrew Jackson threatened to send troops

A Christian revival movement that led to the growth of Baptist and Methodist churches

One of the major technological advances in the 19th century; Georgia was one of the leaders in railroad development in the 1830s and many of Georgia's towns and cities were established due to the railroad

Treaty signed by William McIntosh that gave the remainder of Creek Land to Georgia; McIntosh was killed for this action

The written language of the Cherokee Indians. Within one generation after it was invented, over 90% of the tribe was literate in the language

Final removal of the Cherokee Indians from Georgia in 1838; over 4,000 people died on the forced march from Georgia to Oklahoma

a treaty between the U.S. Government and a minority representation of the Cherokee tribe that ceded all Cherokee land in the Southeast to the United States and allowed for their move to Indian territory (Oklahoma)

a treaty signed by the Creek Indians and the United States government that ceded land to the United States in return for allowing Creeks to punish non-Indian trespassers on Creek land

Landmark Supreme Court case which declared that the Cherokee were sovereign and not subject to the laws of the United States. However, Andrew Jackson refused to enforce the Court's decision and the Cherokee were later removed from Georgia

Georgia act signed by Georgia Governor George Mathews that transferred 35 million acres of land in present day Alabama to four land companies for $500,000; this led to the Yazoo Land Fraud

Land companies bribed members of the Georgia General Assembly to sell land for pennies on the dollar in the western part of Georgia. Georgia was forced to sell lands west of the Chattahoochee River to the U.S. Government in the Compact of 1802

ended slavery in the United States

gave African-Americans citizenship

gave African-American men the right to vote

Union blockade strategy during the Civil War that blocked Southern ports to limit the Confederate imports and exports and slowly weaken the Southern economies

A compromise between the North and South that allowed California to enter the union in exchange for the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act that required the northern states to return runaway slaves to the South

Reconstruction period where Congress took responsibility for bringing the South back into the Union by requiring the South to pass the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. The South was also divided into 5 military districts in order to protest the newly gained rights of freedmen (former slaves)

Supreme Court ruling that declared slaves were not citizens of the United States

The election where Abraham Lincoln defeated three opponents to win the presidency; upon Lincoln's election, Southern states seceded from the Union

Document that declared all slaves in the rebellious states would be freed if the South did not return to the Union by January 1, 1863

A federal agency created in 1865 to provide aid to former slaves (freedmen)

An act that required runaway slaves to be returned to their masters if caught anywhere in the United States

A position supported by several prominent Georgia politicians who supported the Compromise of 1850

An act that allowed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide if they wanted to enter the Union as free or slave states (popular sovereignty)

Reconstruction period where the military took responsibly for bringing the South back into the Union; the South was divided into military districts

A compromise that brought Missouri into the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state; in addition, Congress banned slavery north of the 36^o 20' line of latitude

Allowing political decisions to be made by the vote of the people; concept of the Kansas-Nebraska Act

Reconstruction period where the President took responsibly for bringing the South back into the Union; most lenient of the Reconstruction plans; commonly known as the 10% Plan

Union military campaign led by William T. Sherman from May-September 1864 with Atlanta as the ultimate objective; Sherman's army marched from Chattanooga to Atlanta

Union military campaign led by William T. Sherman with Savannah being the ultimate objective; Sherman used a "scorched earth" policy and waged "total war" to end the South's will to fight

The belief that a state's sovereignty is more important than that of the national government

(September 17, 1862) Union victory; bloodiest one-day battle in the Civil War

(September 18-10, 1863) Confederate victory; largest and bloodiest battle fought in Georgia

(July 1-3, 1864) Union victory of the Civil War; the North repelled a Southern invasion into Pennsylvania; turning point of the Civil War - Union began to take over

A speech made by Booker T. Washington at the International Cotton Exposition; stated that blacks should accept segregation in exchange for economic opportunity; both would lead to mutual progress

A 48 hour riot in Atlanta caused by economic competition and false newspaper accounts of African-American men attacking white women; several African-Americans were killed during the riot

A voting system that gave more power to Georgia's rural counties than urban ones

To deprive a person the right to vote or rights of citizenship

If a person's father could vote before the Civil War, they would be able to vote as well; disenfranchised blacks while allowing poor or uneducated whites to be exempt from the literacy test or poll tax

A series of three large events (1881, 1885, 1895) established to display Atlanta's growth and industrial capabilities and to lure Northern investment into the region

Laws created by state legislatures to deny African-Americans citizenship rights; particularly laws related to segregating the races

The trial where a northern Jewish pencil factory manager was accused of murdering 13 year old Mary Phagan; found guilty of the crime and sentenced to death; his sentence was later reduced to life due to additional evidence. However, a group of men kidnapped and lynched him in Marietta

A disenfranchising tactic that required voters to pass a reading and writing test in order to vote

A British passenger ship that was sunk by the Germans in 1915. Over 100 Americans were killed; the sinking of the Lusitania contributed to America entering World War I

The period after Reconstruction where political and community leaders in the South sought to diversify Georgia's economy and bring Northern technology and/or investments into the state

A disenfranchising tactic that required voters to pay a fee in order to vote

Supreme Court case that established the 'separate but equal' doctrine, promoting segregation

National political moment supporting women's right to vote; supported by Rebecca Latimer Felton

European war caused by ethnic conflict, militarism, economic rivalries, the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and the German U-boat sinking the Lusitania passenger ship containing 128 Americans. The U.S. also feared Mexico would invade the U.S. with the help of Germany

A telegraph sent from Germany to Mexico; Germany urged Mexico to attack the United States in return for territory lost during the Mexican-American War

A New Deal program that paid farmers a subsidy not to grow crops in order to increase the price of agricultural products, which would allow farmers to earn higher profits and get out of debt

An insect whose larvae feed on cotton crops; destroyed cotton production in the southeastern U.S.

One of the factors that led to the Great Depression; when a bank ran out of reserves to pay customers who wanted to withdraw their deposits

A New Deal program that hired unemployed young men to work on public work projects; building roads, buildings, and parks. Money earned would help stimulate the economy

One of the worst droughts in Georgia's history; led to an economic depression in the state

The name given to a series of federal programs spearheaded by President Franklin Roosevelt in order to help the nation recover from the Great Depression

A factor that led to the Great Depression; farmers continued to produce record numbers of crop yield though the demand for agricultural products was limited; this drove the cost of these products down

A factor that led to the Great Depression; economic fears caused consumers to stop buying manufactured products, which led to companies losing money and laying off more employees

New Deal program designed to build the capabilities to bring electricity to rural areas

New Deal program that provided retirement and unemployment insurance for American taxpayers

A factor that led to the Great Depression; a tariff on European goods that closed European markets to American businesses

A factor that led to the Great Depression; a major stock market collapse that led to investors losing over 40 billion dollars. Companies went bankrupt, which increased the unemployment rate

A factory located in Marietta, Georgia, that produced B-29 bombers for the U.S. war effort

The genocide of over 6 million Jews along with gypsies, homosexuals, and political prisoners by Nazi Germany. Georgia Commission on the Holocaust brings awareness to hate crimes

An act that allowed the U.S. government to send billions of dollars in supplies and military equipment to allied countries in exchange for U.S. rights in their military bases

U.S. cargo ships made during World War II. In all, 187 of these ships were made in Georgia

U.S. enters World War II because of a surprise attack on the U.S. Naval base in Hawaii by Japanese forces

Georgia's two deep water ports; during World War II, 187 Liberty Ships were constructed there, which boosted the Georgia economy. Georgia Congressman Carl Vinson brought the shipyards to Georgia

A Georgia city that was home to President Roosevelt's "Little White House"; the site's warm water mineral springs were used as a rehabilitation center for polio victims

Also called the Three Governors Controversy; Due to the death of the 1946 governor's race winner Eugene Talmadge and recent changes to the Georgia state constitution, three men had a legitimate claim to the office; the matter was settled by the Supreme Court and a special election in 1946

A controversial flag that flew over Georgia from 1956-2001. The flag was controversial due to the flag's prominent Confederate Battle emblem and symbolism of segregation

An organized civil rights protest led by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee to desegregate the city of Albany, Georgia; failed attempt because many protesters were arrested and jailed

Supreme Court cases that struck down the policy of separate but equal and mandated the desegregation of public schools

A federal legislation that forbade discrimination in the workforce on the basis of race and sex in hiring, firing, and promotion

A civil rights march led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote jobs and freedom; the famous "I Have a Dream" speech helped to pass the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act

An investigation by lawyer John Sibley to determine what should be done about integration in the state; though 60% of Georgians claimed they would rather close the public schools than integrate, Sibley recommended that the local school systems desegregate when they were ready

A tactic used by whites in Georgia to prevent blacks from voting in the Democratic primary; because Georgia was a one party state, this prevented African-Americans from having a voice in elections

1996 Olympic Games were awarded to Atlanta and the state of Georgia; Georgia has benefited economically due to the games

Part of a Supreme Court ruling that mandated congressional districts needed to be divided by population with each district having a roughly equal number of voters

A democratic form of government where two major parties dominate the political landscape

A political policy that gave each county a certain number of votes based on three categories (rural, town, or urban); system was ended because it violated the "one man-one vote" doctrine and rural counties with less population had more voting power than more populated urban counties