Passage:
There were several reasons for the establishment of the University of Georgia (UGA). Abraham Baldwin,
Georgia’s signer of the U.S. Constitution, wrote the charter for the university. A charter is a written grant by a
state’s legislation that defines the college’s rights and privileges. In the charter, Baldwin described his reasons for
UGA’s establishment. He documented that an educated population was crucial for a free government to be
successful. He also documented that state government should make education available to all of its citizens, not
just the wealthy citizens. Georgia’s General Assembly approved Baldwin’s charter for UGA in 1785. UGA was the
very first state-created school of higher education in the United States. While its charter was approved in 1785, it
didn’t open its doors until 1801.
There were also several reasons for the movement of Georgia’s capitals. Georgia’s capital moved five times
before it landed in its final resting place. While there are some additional factors that influenced each move, the
overarching reason for the movement of Georgia’s capitals was the westward movement of its citizens.
The first capital is considered Georgia’s “colonial” capital. Savannah was Georgia’s first capital, but its power
remained in England. The British moved Georgia’s capital back and forth between Savannah and Georgia's second
capital location, Augusta, because of war activities.
Louisville was Georgia's third capital location. Louisville was Georgia’s capital from 1796 – 1807 because it was
in the centermost location of the state’s population. In addition, the Ogeechee River was a potential trade route.
Louisville ended as the capital location in 1807 for a number of reasons. There were several years of Malaria
outbreak in the city, plus the Ogeechee River proved to be too difficult for a major trade route. Ultimately, the
capital’s location moved again because of the westward movement of Georgia's population.
Next, Georgia's capital moved to Milledgeville in the early 1800s. Milledgeville served as capital for roughly 60
years. However, it was abandoned as General Sherman marched through Georgia. Government documents were
evacuated by trains. Further, the population’s continual movement westward influenced the final move of
Georgia's state capital.
The state’s final capital location is Atlanta. Atlanta was developed as a result of the Western and Atlantic
Railroad. Its original name was Terminus, then it was called Marthasville, until it was finally renamed Atlanta. The
capital moved here after the Civil War because of its growing population and better railroad accessibility.
Georgia’s capital made westward movements until it finally landed in Atlanta. The removal of the Cherokees in
1838 contributed to the westward movement of Georgia’s population. This, in turn, influenced the final move of
the capital. While many factors contributed to each move, one common factor is the westward movement of
Georgia’s population.
Questions:
irections: Add details form the text to fill in the charts.
Reason for its Establishment #1:
The University of Georgia
Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ________________________
The Establishment of UGA and the
Movement of Georgia’s Capital
Reason for its Establishment #2:
List the most common reason for the movement of Georgia’s Capital.
The Movement of Georgia’s Capital
List the locations of Georgia’s capital in chronological order.
© Sarah Miller Tech 3
Directions: Match the vocabulary term to its definition.
1. _____ Georgia’s “colonial” capital
2. _____ a written grant by a state’s legislation that defines the
college’s rights and privileges
3. _____ Abraham Baldwin
4._____ city near the Ogeechee River
5. _____ a city formerly called Terminus
a. Atlanta
b. Louisville
c. Savannah
d. charter
e. Person who wrote the charter
for the founding of UGA
Directions: Circle the best answer choice based on the passage.
1. Which best describes the reasons for the establishment of the University of Georgia?
a. In order for a free government to be successful, the population must be wealthy.
b. In order for a free government to be successful, the population must be educated.
c. In order for a university to be successful, the population must be wealthy.
d. In order for a university to be successful, the population must be educated.
2. The acronym, “SALMA”, is a common way to remember the different locations of Georgia’s capital.
Which city does the letter “M” represent in this acronym?
a. Macon
b. Marthasville
c. Milledgeville
d. Maynor
3. Which capital location was abandoned after General Sherman’s march through Georgia?
a. Savannah
b. Atlanta
c. Milledgeville
d. Augusta
4. Which describes reasons for the capital moving away from Louisville?
a. Malaria outbreaks
b. Ogeechee River was too difficult to be a trade route
c. Westward movement of Georgia’s population
d. All of the above
5. Which sentence in Paragraph 5 provides irrelevant information?
a. “Milledgeville served as capital for roughly 60 years.”
b. “However, it was abandoned as General Sherman marched through Georgia.”
c. “Government documents were evacuated by trains.”
d. “Further, the population’s continual movement westward influenced the final move of
Georgia's state capital."
Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ________________________
The Establishment of UGA and the
Movement of Georgia’s Capital
© Sarah Miller Tech 4
Label the cities on the map:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
1 = Georgia’s earliest capital
5 = Georgia’s final capital location
Directions: Complete the chart below based on the passage.
Pretend you are a news reporter from the early 1800. You are reporting to the public about the
capital’s recent move FROM Louisville TO Milledgeville. Explain why Louisville was chosen as
Georgia’s capital location, why it is no longer ideal for Georgia’s capital location, and why the
capital is being moved to Milledgeville, Georgia.
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______________________________________________________________________________
Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ________________________
The Establishment of UGA and the
Movement of Georgia’s Capital
© Sarah Miller Tech 5
Illustrate an image to support your newspaper article.
______________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ________________________
The Establishment of UGA and the
Movement of Georgia’s Capital
Answer Key
Reason for its Establishment #1:
The University of Georgia
- An educated population was crucial for a free government to be successful.
- State government should make education available to all citizens, not just the wealthy.
Reason for its Establishment #2:
List the most common reason for the movement of Georgia’s Capital.
- The westward movement of Georgia’s citizens.
The Movement of Georgia’s Capital
List the locations of Georgia’s capital in chronological order.
1. Savannah
2. Augusta
3. Louisville
4. Milledgeville
5. Atlanta
Directions: Match the vocabulary term to its definition.
1. c. Savannah - Georgia’s “colonial” capital
2. d. charter - a written grant by a state’s legislation that defines the college’s rights and privileges
3. e. Abraham Baldwin - Person who wrote the charter for the founding of UGA
4. b. Louisville - city near the Ogeechee River
5. a. Atlanta - a city formerly called Terminus
Directions: Circle the best answer choice based on the passage.
1. b. In order for a free government to be successful, the population must be educated.
2. c. Milledgeville
3. c. Milledgeville
4. d. All of the above
5. a. “Milledgeville served as capital for roughly 60 years.”
Label the cities on the map:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
1 = Savannah
2 = Augusta
3 = Louisville
4 = Milledgeville
5 = Atlanta
Directions: Complete the chart below based on the passage.
Pretend you are a news reporter from the early 1800. You are reporting to the public about the capital’s recent move FROM Louisville TO Milledgeville. Explain why Louisville was chosen as Georgia’s capital location, why it is no longer ideal for Georgia’s capital location, and why the capital is being moved to Milledgeville, Georgia.
- Louisville was chosen as Georgia’s capital location because it was in the centermost location of the state’s population, and the Ogeechee River offered potential as a trade route.
- Louisville is no longer ideal for Georgia’s capital location because of several years of Malaria outbreaks in the city and the realization that the Ogeechee River is not suitable for a major trade route.
- The capital is being moved to Milledgeville because of the westward movement of Georgia’s population.
Illustrate an image to support your newspaper article.
(Answers will vary)