James
Oglethorpe was angry after a friend of his died in debtors' prison and
called for an investigation into the conditions of British jails. He also
formulated a plan to obtain the release of people from debtors' prison and
to establish a new colony, south of Carolina, to be inhabited by the
"worthy poor" of London. The "worthy poor"
included the debtors and other homeless people. In the Royal Charter (June
20, 1732), granted by King George II for the colony of Georgia, a board of
Trustees was established to fulfill this goal. As it happened, however,
this plan was never fully realized. When the ship Anne sailed
for the new colony on November 16, 1732, not one of the 114 colonists
aboard had been released from debtors' prison to make the voyage.
By
early February, 1733, a small group of settlers was headed up the Savannah
River. They landed at Yamacra Bluff on February 12th and
Oglethorpe began the process of laying out lots for Savannah, Georgia.
General James Oglethorpe's colony was the only U.S. colony founded as a
refuge for the "poor and deserving". February 12, 1998 marked
265 years since Oglethorpe and his shipload of settlers founded Georgia.
Since
that time, Georgia has become the commercial leader of the region. The
state now ranks first in the production of peanuts, pecans, lima beans and
pimiento peppers. Savannah has been called "this nation's most
beautiful city" and Atlanta has become the leading transportation
center of the southeast.
The
famous Margaret Mitchell novel, Gone With the Wind was written in
Georgia and Atlanta served host to the 1996 Summer Olympics.
If
you ever find yourself in Vidalia, grab one of those renowned
"Vidalia Onions".
| THE NAME:
The last of the thirteen original British colonies was named after England's King George II in 1733.
The terms of the charter granted by the king specified that the colony to be founded by James Oglethorpe
be named after the king and so it was.
Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S.
State
Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994 |
|
THE NICKNAMES:
Empire State of the South: This nickname represented a determination in the Georgia citizenry
to be leader in industrial and economic development in the southern tier of states.
Yankee-land of the South: Similarly to the above nickname, "Yankee-land of the South" speaks to
industrial and economic development in the south. This nickname may be used in a derogatory sense.
The Peach State: So called for the importance of peaches in the Georgia agricultural economy.
The Goober State: Like "The Peach State," this nickname calls attention to the value of
peanuts in the state. "Goobers" are peanuts.
The Cracker State: Along with Florida, Georgia has been called "The Cracker State" in earlier times.
This Georgia nickname was a derogatory term that referred to immigrants, called "Crackers," from the
mountains of Virginia and North Carolina. Crackers were considered less than ideal citizens.
The Buzzard State: Buzzards are scavengers and Georgia, considering them a necessary part of the
ecology, at one time passed a strict law for their protection within the state.
Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State
Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994
Shankle, George Earlie, Phd State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers and
Other Symbols H. H. Wilson Company, New York - 1938 (Reprint) |
THE CITIZENS:
People who live in Georgia or who come from Georgia are called Georgians.
Aligning with some of the nicknames that have been given to Georgia, Georgians have been referred to as Buzzards,
Crackers, and Goober-grabbers. "Sand-hillers" was a derogatory name given to poor and illiterate people who
were said to live idle and wretched lives in the Georgia pine barrens. |
THE
QUARTER:
About two weeks after New Jersey, the state of Georgia came on
board. On January 2, 1788, Georgia became the fourth state to join
the union and the first of the southern states. The Georgia Peach is
shown against an outline of the state on this commemorative quarter.
Branches of the state tree, the Live Oak cradle the design while a
banner displays the state motto: Wisdom, justice, moderation.
For more on the state commemorative quarters, visit this page.
This 50 State Quarter Map is a great way to collect and display all 50 State Quarters. |
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