The Georgia Platform
Who was involved? Think about the people or groups who were involved and affected by this event.____
What happened? Summarize the event! ___
Where did the event take place?____
When did the event take place? ___
Why is this event important to Georgia’s history? ____
1. People involved: The Georgia Platform involved several individuals and groups, including Georgia politicians, such as Robert Toombs and Alexander Stephens, who played a prominent role in drafting and advocating for this platform. The event also affected the people of Georgia, specifically those who supported or opposed the platform, as well as the broader population of the United States.
2. Event summary: The Georgia Platform was a political stance taken by Georgia politicians on the issue of slavery in the late 1850s. It was an attempt to find a compromise between the North and the South over the expansion of slavery into new territories. The platform asserted that the federal government did not have the authority to ban slavery in the territories and that the future of slavery should be left to the people living in those territories to decide.
3. Location: The event took place primarily in Georgia, as it was a political stance adopted by Georgia politicians.
4. Time: The Georgia Platform emerged in 1850, but it gained increased prominence during the late 1850s, particularly in the lead-up to the presidential election of 1860.
5. Historical importance: The Georgia Platform is significant to Georgia's history because it represented the state's stance on the divisive issue of slavery and its attempt to maintain its economic dependence on the institution. By asserting the right of the people in the territories to decide on the future of slavery, the platform aimed to protect southern interests and prevent the federal government from banning slavery in new territories. The platform's emphasis on states' rights and the principles it espoused became relevant as tensions between the North and the South continued to escalate, leading ultimately to the American Civil War.