Question

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.

Answer 1

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Quick 2-sentence summary to get started:
Abraham Baldwin wrote the charter establishing the University of Georgia in 1785 to promote public education essential for a free government, and the university opened in 1801. Georgia’s capital moved west several times (Savannah → Augusta → Louisville → Milledgeville → Atlanta) largely because the population shifted westward, plus factors like disease, transportation routes, the Cherokee removal, and railroads.