GA Studies Chapter 6 Vocabulary
Influential Georgians
Benjamin Parks - Credited with discovery of gold in Dahlonega. He was a farmer who
found it while hunting.
Eli Whitney – inventor of the cotton “gin”, a machine which separated cotton fiber from its
seed.
Samuel Worchester – Reverend and postmaster at New Echota, was also a missionary
living in Cherokee territory. Refused to take the required oath of allegiance to the Georgia
governor in 1831, and was sentenced along with 10 others by GA courts. Worchester and
another took the case to the Supreme Court, who overturned GA’s decision because Cherokee
territory was not subject to state laws. Because President Jackson and Governor Lumpkin
refused to enforce Supreme Court’s decision, Worchester eventually gave up fight and were
told to leave the state of GA in 1833.
Political Figures
Abraham Baldwin – attended Constitutional Convention as GA representative; took part in
writing of US Constitution
Augustin Clayton Gwinnett County Judge who sentenced missionaries to 4 years at the state
penitentiary.
William Few - attended Constitutional Convention as GA representative; took part in writing
of US Constitution
Andrew Jackson became a hero of the War of 1812, during the Battle of New Orleans (which
took place after the treaty was signed). Jackson later invaded Florida, overthrowing the
Spanish governor, allowing the US to purchase Florida for $5 million.
Thomas Jefferson – 3rd President of the US. Bought Louisiana Territory from France
(Louisiana Purchase), which doubled the size of the country.
George Mathews- Governor of Georgia, who was part of Yazoo Land Fraud. He accepted
bribe by land companies to pass a bill, allowing said companies to buy land very cheaply.
Winfield Scott - US General who was ordered to remove the 15,000 Cherokee from GA
lands. Built stockades in New Echota in May 1838 to imprison Cherokee.
Creeks & Cherokees
Elias Boudinot – Cherokee leader who became the editor of the first Indian newspaper, The
Cherokee Phoenix.
Alexander McGillivray – Chief of Creeks, along Oconee River. Signed the Treaty of New
York with President Washington.
William McIntosh Creek Chief who made a deal with US Government for Creek land. He
was murdered by a large group of Creeks for going against tribal law.
Sequoyah Born George Gist, Sequoyah was his Indian name. Worked as a blacksmith.
Created a syllabary for the Cherokee language.
James Vann - Chief of the Cherokees in Georgia. He adopted the lifestyle of the European
settlers by living in a large 2-story house and converting to Christianity. Despite assimilating
into American culture, he was still forced out in the Trail of Tears.
Red Sticks –the Creeks who favored war over land in 1812. They fought alongside British in
the War of 1812.
White Sticks The Creeks who wanted peace instead of war
Mrs. Dobbs
Georgia Studies
McClure Middle School
Cobb County, 2013
GA Studies Chapter 6 Vocabulary
Locations
Atlanta (around 1800) once known as Terminus, then Marthasville. Located at the end of
the W&A Railroad, along the southeastern bank of the Chattahoochee.
Auraria - first gold mining center in the United States. Located in Lumpkin County.
Chattahoochee River - became Georgia’s western boundary in 1802, after Georgia ceded
land to federal government for $1.25 million.
Dahlonega - town in North Georgia. Gold was discovered here in 1829, eventually leading to
Indian Removal Act
Fort Mims –Fort Mims in Alabama was attacked by Red Sticks on August 30, 1813. 400
people, including women and children, died. This event resulted in attacks on Creeks all over
the south.
Louisville – state capital of Georgia from 1796 to 1806. Pronounced Lewis-ville
New Echota Cherokee capital, near Calhoun, GA. Moved here in 1825.
Terminus – original name of Atlanta. Renamed Marthasville in 1842.
Vocabulary
economic depression – a sharp economic downturn. Panic of 1837 created a depression.
embargo act by government to stop trade with foreign countries
emigrate - move out of an area
litigation – legal court action
syllabary a group of symbols that stand for whole syllables. Allowed Cherokee to now
communicate in writing. Cherokee were the first to have a written language.
turnpike – major highways built by the federal government in 1800s. Called such because
they had “pikes” or gates to access and pay a fee.
Political Events
General Assembly – the name for the Georgia legislature. Bicameral.
Oconee War attacks between Georgia settlers and Creeks along Oconee River. Took place
prior to the Treaty of New York.
Trail of Tears – the forcible removal in 1838 of the Cherokees from their native lands in the
southern US to a reservation in Oklahoma. Between 1830 and 1838, over 100K Native
Americans were displaced, and approximately 2000 died, mostly elderly and small children.
Treaty of New York agreement between Chief McGillivray of Creeks and President
Washington. Creek gave up all land east of the Oconee River. In return, whites would not be
allowed into land west of the Oconee. The government would also help the Creeks with farm
tools and animals. Treaty was accepted and followed for a brief amount of time, from 1797 to
1812. (1790)
Treaty of Indian Springs – Agreement between Creek Chief McIntosh and GA Governor
George Troup with the US Govt. Creek chiefs were paid $200K to give up last of Creek lands to
US. McIntosh was killed over this deal by the Creeks.
Land Acquisitions
headright system – System by which land east of the Oconee River was distributed to
settlers. Each white male as “head” of the family, and had a “right” to up to 1000 acres.
Replaced by land lottery in 1803.
Mrs. Dobbs
Georgia Studies
McClure Middle School
Cobb County, 2013
GA Studies Chapter 6 Vocabulary
Louisiana Purchase – purchase of land from French by Thomas Jefferson for $15 million.
Doubled the size of the country. (1803)
Yazoo land fraud - scheme involving 4 land companies, Governor George Mathews of GA,
and members of General Assembly. Land companies bribed Governor and congressman to
write a bill, which would allow them to purchase a large portion of land bordering the
Mississippi River and the Yazoo River for only a penny and a half an acre. Citizens protested,
legislators resigned, and the law was repealed. (1796)
Mrs. Dobbs
Georgia Studies
McClure Middle School
Cobb County, 2013