Political and Economic Changes That Took Place in Georgia - Book Report/Review Example

? JAMES COBB’S GEORGIA {Insert {Insert November, 30th JAMES COBB’S GEORGIA Georgia Odyssey is a lively and critical examination of history of the state of Georgia drawing from the way in which it was formed as a colony of British to its current position as an important state in the international business, Mecca1. Additionally, the author outlines how the state emerged from a state that was in isolation to the crucial roles it has plays in the centennial Olympic Games among other essential activities. It further outlines how this particular state transformed from being a democratic state to one that is characterized by political dominance especially by Republican Party. Moreover, the author includes present trends that have made Georgia to be regarded as one of the most attractive and dynamic states in addition to fuelling the growth of both Asian and Hispanic American populations. Furthermore, the book explores how the cultural, persona, demographic, political and economic changes that took place in Georgia. Furthermore, the author provides panorama of peculiarity, contradiction, anachronism and contrast which is jumbled to some extent2. The author further outlines various myths that are associated with Georgia in addition to illustrating how distinct it is from other states in the southern part of the nation. The book seems to shift focus from cultural landscape of Georgia to its history in addition to highlighting its current status in terms of economy, social wellbeing and politics among other aspects. The past of George is brought out in manner that makes it easy to be related to the presented situation. To some extent the history of Georgia is linked to that of the South and even the nation as a whole. However, to some degree, the history of Georgia is historically distinct based on some aspects. Among all the thirteen colonies, Georgia is considered as the largest state in Mississippi in addition to being in the south most part of the nation. According to the author Georgia’s human history started even before the founding colony, characterized by Native American cultures which began in the Paleo-Indian period. This particular culture which is known as the Clovis culture had projectile points which were unique in nature.3 The Native America groups which had settled in Georgia led sedentary lives by not only establishing villages but also developing horticultures. During this particular woodland period, the state was characterized by rock structures and mounds which included Kolomoki mounds which were present in the early county. These moulds have proven to be the most populous settlement in the Northern part of Mexico. For a period which can be estimated to 8 centuries based on the period of Mississippi, native cultures which were complex in nature emerged. These included organized chiefdoms which developed in correspondence to the certain features of the physical aspects that surrounded them. Moreover, Georgia as a state holds an exclusive position in terms of geology and geography. Georgia has two distinct coastal lines in addition to Blue Ridge Mountains. These environmental zones which are unique in nature attracted people from different native cultures thus resulting into diversity of cultures such as the Indian culture4. This is proven by the presence of a variety of pottery found in the region. Additionally, towns which were characterized by defensive structures were constructed in addition to a variety of mounds which are still present in places such as Nacoochee, Etowah and Ocmulgee. When Europeans settlers and explorers arrived in the region, the existing culture in the Mississippi began to fade away. This resulted into variety of chiefdoms coalescing to form bigger societies such as those of Cherokees and Creeks which played a crucial role in the Georgia’s colonial history. Nevertheless, in the North America, the early Europeans i.e. the Spanish that settled there did not put up permanent structures or settlements that could result into formation of Georgia as compared to what they established in Florida. The attempt that the Spanish made to settle in the region only lasted for a period of six weeks without success5. Additionally, the documentation of Indian chiefdoms provides an elaborative description of the lives in Georgia before 18th century. The presence of Spanish resulted into the spread of catholic missionaries who ended up establishing Santa Catalina de Guale. These missions played a crucial role during the colonial period by assimilating the populations of the Native Americans into the colonial system. Moreover, before mid 1600s the north east part of Georgia was occupied by the English settlers who had emerged from South Carolina. These setters got involved in slave trade and later into trading deer skins and this particular trade continued even after the British colonized Georgia. It is essential to note that the colonization experience of Georgia was distinct from other nations that were also colonized by British. Georgia was the last colony to be founded and its formation took considerable long period of time after the establishment of the 12th British colony6. Additionally, the board of trustees not only founded Georgia but also rules making it a unique British colony. The board of trustees ruled from London and there was no governing body or governor within Georgia. Additionally, out of the 13 colonies, it was only in Georgia that slavery was explicitly banned. James Oglethorpe had great impact of the founding of Georgia as he envisioned it as a mere refugee for debtors who had initially crowded the prisons particularly those in London. However, the prisoners were never the initial settlers. The British government was more concerned about the military forces due to the fact that they wanted Georgia to assist them in protecting the South Carolina together with its other colonies from Florida incursions which were majorly initiated by the Spanish. This resulted into construction of a number of fortifications to offer the much needed security from the potential invaders7. Additionally, Georgia had the least development and population that was considerable small due to the fact that it had the shortest colonial experience. Consequently, Georgia periphery formed the mainstream of the revolutionary war that took place between 1775 and 1783 in terms of its politics and getting involved in the war. Between 1775 and 1781 Georgia as a colony was well represented in Philadelphia at the second continental congress with three Georgians being in attendance. Despite the fact that Georgia experienced constant skirmishes and attempted attack, the colony did not experience any serious incursion into Florida except the savannah siege that took place in 1779 which was as a result of confrontation between American and British troops an aspect that made French to liberate the city from being occupied by the British troops. In the same year the capital city of Georgia was moved from savanna making Augusta the second oldest city of the Georgia to be its new city8. Nonetheless, it did not take long before kettle Creek battle broke out in the county of Wilkes. Nonetheless after the trustees decided to lift the ban on slavery, the Georgians focused on plantation economy whereby they cultivated Sea Island cotton and rice. Additionally, it can be argued that Georgia formed the ground for development of slavery in America. Together with Mississippi and Alabama, Georgia has proven to be a larger percentage of the native America population as compared to other states in the eastern seaboard. Moreover, the railway construction which aimed at connecting Macon, Savannah, Athens and Augusta was one of the significant developments that took place in Georgia in 1830s. Moreover, due to the fact that Georgia had more rail lines than any other neighboring nation, Georgia became a battle field for the civil war that took place between 1861 and 1865. Additionally, Georgia played an important role during the secession crisis in addition to confederacy formation. This is due to the fact that Georgia had the greatest percentage of slaveholders as well as slaves as compared to any other state in the Deep South. This is despite the fact that Georgia had only two geographical areas which were vast and in which slavery did not contribute much. However, the Georgians played an important role in the civil wars especially in the formation of the confederate government. Nonetheless, it is important to point out that George had a similar reconstruction just like any other state in the southern part of the country. The years that followed were characterized by political tensions which entailed racial violence and struggling over the occupation of the federal. Additionally, during the reconstruction period there was the general assembly was expelled by black republican legislators who were duly elected. This made the U.S congress to ban the new elected congress in the state of Georgia from taking any seat in the House of Representatives. This served as a lesson to other nations regarding the power of federal and the the importance of constitutional amendments. This made Georgia to be the last in former member of the confederate state to be readmitted in the union and the congress were finally allowed to take seats in the House of Representatives in 1870. In conclusion, despite the vision of Grady, Georgia did not transform into an urban but rather remained rural with a greater percentage of the citizens getting involved in farming as an occupation. As a result of slave labor being put into an end, the cotton production was impacted on negatively resulting to huge losses. Furthermore, cotton demand reduced considerable not only in the European nations but in the world as a whole. Therefore, as a result of government neglect, Georgia citizens decided to focus more on business and industrialization. Additionally, farmers had no other choice rather than to take part in crop lien and existing tenant systems9. Bibliography Cobb, James. Georgia Odyssey: A Short History of the State, 2d ed. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2008. Read More