WorksheetsFounding of the University of Georgia
Total questions: 80
Worksheet time: 40mins
Which action by Georgia’s General Assembly in 1784 most directly advanced public higher education in the state?
Inviting northern colleges to open branches
Raising taxes to build private academies
Offering scholarships only to wealthy families
Setting aside 40,000 acres for a university
Who wrote the University of Georgia’s charter in 1785 affirming that all people have a right to education?
John Milledge drafted the charter
Button Gwinnett drafted the charter
Abraham Baldwin drafted the charter
George Walton drafted the charter
UGA holds which distinction in United States history?
Oldest private university continuously
First state-supported university established
Largest land-grant university founded
First college to admit women nationally
According to UGA’s founding principles, who should have access to education?
Only taxpayers and veterans
Primarily merchants and clergy
All people, not only the wealthy
Only landowning adult men
Why did UGA’s founding set an example for today’s public colleges and universities?
It banned subjects like science and math
It demonstrated state support for higher education
It required tuition to be paid in crops
It limited enrollment to wealthy families
What was the original name of the University of Georgia before it opened its doors in 1801?
Ben Franklin University
Franklin College
Georgia Seminary
Athens Institute
Where is the University of Georgia located?
Savannah, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Which statement best describes UGA’s growth over the past 130 years?
It shrank in size and prestige
It stayed the same size and focus
It expanded in size and reputation
It merged and moved to Savannah
In which year did the University of Georgia first open to students in Athens?
1785
1865
1801
1918
Which pair of students integrated UGA in 1961 by becoming the first African American enrollees?
Ruby Bridges and James Meredith
Martin King and Ralph Abernathy
Andrew Young and John Lewis
Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes
Why was the 1961 integration of UGA significant for Georgia’s development?
It led to UGA’s relocation to Atlanta
It marked progress toward educational equality
It reversed earlier admissions for women
It ended public funding for universities
Which city served as Georgia’s first state capital before the move westward?
Milledgeville
Augusta
Savannah
Athens
Macon
What was the main reason Savannah became an inconvenient capital for Georgians in the late 1700s?
Roads to Savannah improved
Fewer legislators were available
River traffic greatly increased
Trade shifted to the Atlantic
Population shifted westward
In what year did Georgia officially move its state capital to Augusta?
1789
1802
1798
1776
1785
Which factor best explains why citizens wanted a more central capital location?
To attract foreign ambassadors
To reduce coastal hurricane damage
To end disputes with South Carolina
To be accessible for all Georgians
To increase sales taxes in cities
Who took action to search for a new capital site farther west after complaints about location?
Private landowners
Local merchants
Federal officials
The state legislature
The governor’s militia
In 1786, where did the General Assembly identify the new capital site relative to a geographic feature?
On islands off the Georgia coast
At the mouth of the Altamaha River
On a bluff along the Savannah River
Near an Indian trading post on the Ogeechee River
South of the Chattahoochee River
Which sequence correctly shows the capital’s change described?
Savannah to Augusta
Augusta to Milledgeville
Macon to Savannah
Augusta to Savannah
Savannah to Macon
If you were a farmer who moved inland during the westward expansion, why might you support relocating the capital?
A southern capital protected plantations
A coastal capital improved export taxes
A central capital reduced travel distance
A northern capital ended land lotteries
A distant capital increased river tolls
Why was Georgia’s capital named Louisville in the 1790s?
To mark the Oconee treaty signing
To honor King Louis XVI of France
To recognize Governor John Milledge
To celebrate a Revolutionary War battle
Which river made water transportation convenient to and from Louisville?
Altamaha River
Chattahoochee River
Savannah River
Ogeechee River
Which factor helped legislators manage frontier issues while in Louisville?
An Indian trading post nearby
A large coastal navy yard
A mountain fortification system
A railroad junction hub
How long after site selection did the government finally move to Louisville?
Over ten years later
About three years later
Less than one year later
Nearly twenty years later
By 1796, once Louisville was developed, how was it characterized?
Struggling politically and militarily
Isolated geographically and demographically
Successful socially and financially
Declining agriculturally and culturally
Which combined developments led officials to relocate the capital from Louisville in 1807?
Earthquake damage and flooding along rivers
Northwestern population growth and a malaria outbreak
Railroad expansion eastward and naval threats
Cotton price collapse and severe drought
To which city was Georgia’s capital moved in 1807?
Milledgeville
Savannah
Atlanta
Augusta
Milledgeville received its name in honor of which individual?
Senator William Few
Governor John Milledge
President James Madison
General Nathanael Greene
For approximately how long did Milledgeville serve as Georgia’s state capital after 1807?
Eighty-six years
Twenty-one years
Sixty-one years
Forty-one years
Which statement best explains why water access mattered to Louisville’s growth?
Rivers provided scenic areas for recreation only
Rivers replaced all road building in the interior
Rivers discouraged settlement along the frontier
Rivers allowed efficient movement of goods and people
Which outcome most likely followed the malaria outbreak in Louisville?
Declining health pushed leaders to seek a safer capital
Improved river traffic kept the capital in place
Military defenses eliminated any disease concerns
Increased trade encouraged more settlement in swamps
Which sequence correctly orders the capitals and reasons involved?
Louisville after cotton crash, then Milledgeville for coastal trade
Louisville for river access, then Milledgeville after malaria and growth
Milledgeville for gold rush, then Louisville for frontier defense
Milledgeville for river access, then Louisville after railroad building
Which factor most influenced the choice of Terminus as Georgia’s new capital in the 1800s?
Railroad accessibility for transportation
Proximity to coastal trading ports
Abundant farmland for settlers
Existing large government buildings
In what year did Georgia’s state capital officially move to Atlanta?
1850
1876
1832
1868
Before being renamed Atlanta, the town chosen for its rail connections was called what?
Milledge
Savannah
Terminus
Augusta
Why did Georgia’s state capital relocate multiple times during its history?
To align with election results
To find cheaper land for offices
To escape foreign invasions
To follow the population center
Which sequence correctly matches the S.A.L.M.A. mnemonic for Georgia’s capitals?
Savannah, Augusta, Louisville, Milledgeville, Atlanta
Savannah, Atlanta, Louisville, Milledgeville, Augusta
Savannah, Augusta, Milledgeville, Louisville, Atlanta
Savannah, Athens, Louisville, Macon, Atlanta
Legislators began pushing for another westward move of the capital after which event?
Discovery of gold at Dahlonega
End of the Civil War in Georgia
Completion of the interstate highways
Removal of the Cherokee from the state
A city planner in 1860 argues for moving Georgia’s capital to a rail hub to improve citizen access. Which city best fits that plan at the time?
Terminus (later Atlanta)
Augusta near the river
Savannah on the coast
Milledgeville downtown
A student creates a poster using S.A.L.M.A. to remember Georgia’s capitals. Which city should be listed third?
Louisville
Augusta
Atlanta
Milledgeville
What was the first public university to receive a charter in the United States?
The University of Georgia
The University of North Carolina
Harvard University
Emory University
Why was UGA established?
Without it, Athens would have died.
To compete against Georgia Tech
Land grants made it possible to provide public education opportunities
Georgia needed a university to match other states education programs
What was the sole purpose of the changing of location for the state capital?
The people kept moving west, and so went the capital with the people.
It needed to be moved away from the ocean in case of an attack.
The citizens wanted it to be Atlanta and needed to slowly move the capital closer.
To hide it from our enemies.
What primary goal did Georgia hope to achieve by giving land away under the headright system after the Revolutionary War?
Reward only wealthy planters for donations
Expand cotton exports to European markets
Reduce the number of frontier conflicts statewide
Increase population growth across the state
Until what year did Georgia distribute land using the headright system?
1790
1812
1803
1776
Why didn’t Georgia simply sell the land for profit during this period?
Britain banned all land sales then
The land had no market value then
The state lacked legal authority to sell
Leaders prioritized attracting more settlers
Under the headright system, who was typically eligible to claim land as the family head?
White males recognized as household heads
Former governors with political ties
Any adult regardless of gender or status
Only merchants approved by counties
How many acres were granted initially to an eligible head of household?
250 acres as the base allotment
300 acres as the base allotment
150 acres as the base allotment
200 acres as the base allotment
What additional acreage could be claimed for each family member, including enslaved people?
10 acres per additional person
75 acres per additional person
25 acres per additional person
50 acres per additional person
What was the general acreage cap for families receiving land through the headright system?
1,250 acres for most households
500 acres for most households
750 acres for most households
1,000 acres for most households
Which group could legally receive land amounts above the usual acreage limit?
Revolutionary War veterans
Foreign traders and merchants
County tax collectors
Ministers and schoolteachers
What did the state expect recipients to do with the land they received?
Return it after five years of use
Settle it and make it productive
Hold it and resell it quickly
Leave it unused for conservation
Which statement best describes how land claims were chosen under the headright system?
Auctions to the highest bidding settler
Random lottery from county drawings
First come, first served on unclaimed land
Assignments by royal governors’ orders
Why did land ownership serve as a key status symbol during this period?
Land guaranteed freedom from taxes
Land replaced money in all transactions
Land granted automatic political office
More land generally meant greater wealth
How did the headright system help encourage immigration to Georgia?
It offered free land to new settlers
It provided free ships for European travel
It promised gold discoveries on farms
It canceled all existing settlers’ debts
Which best describes the main goal of the land speculators involved with the Yazoo lands?
Create a national park between major rivers
Protect western borders from foreign invasion
Buy vast territory at extremely low prices
Provide small farms to poor frontier settlers
Where were the Yazoo lands located during the 1790s?
Between Georgia and the Mississippi River
Along the Atlantic coastal plain only
South of Spanish Florida territories
North of the Ohio River valley
Which Georgia official played a key role by bribing legislators to pass the Yazoo Act of 1795?
Governor John Marshall of Georgia
Representative Eli Whitney from Georgia
Judge Alexander Hamilton of Georgia
Senator James Gunn from Georgia
Under the Yazoo Act of 1795, about how much did speculators pay per acre?
Roughly one cent per acre
Around one dollar per acre
About ten cents per acre
Nearly fifty cents per acre
Which action shows how government corruption contributed to land fraud in this period?
Officials banned private companies from buying
Officials raised prices to discourage speculators
Officials ignored the 1,000-acre limit on grants
Officials enforced strict surveys on all tracts
Why did granting more land than actually existed help speculators?
They wanted to build towns for new immigrants
They planned to farm cotton across the region
They intended to donate parcels to veterans
They hoped to resell quickly for huge profits
How did citizens respond when they learned about the Yazoo Land Fraud?
They ignored it and focused on gold rushes
They organized to help speculators expand
They accepted it and praised low land prices
They were furious and voted supporters out
Which symbolic act publicly rejected the corrupt land deal in Louisville?
Burning the Yazoo Act at the state capitol
Marching to the Mississippi River in protest
Publishing a loyalty oath for all legislators
Holding a months-long tax boycott statewide
What legislative action followed the public outrage over the Yazoo scandal?
The General Assembly expanded the act in 1797
The General Assembly repealed the act in 1796
The General Assembly rewrote the state constitution
The General Assembly created new land lotteries
What ultimately happened to the Yazoo area after the scandal?
It became an independent territory for speculators
Spain annexed the region after negotiations
Georgia kept full control and resold it in 1800
Georgia ceded the territory to the US in 1802
Which statement best explains why bribery was used to pass the Yazoo Act?
Speculators needed legislative support for cheap sales
Citizens demanded legislators lower land prices
Federal judges insisted on immediate land auctions
Native leaders required approval for peaceful trade
Which consequence best reflects the political impact of the Yazoo Fraud in Georgia?
Voters rejected all future land distribution plans
Voters increased taxes to repay speculator debts
Voters removed many officials who backed the deal
Voters elected speculators directly to the Senate
Which event led Georgia to change its land grant policies and move toward a lottery system?
Creation of new state constitution
End of the American Revolution
Gold discovery near Dahlonega
Yazoo Land Fraud scandal exposure
What was the main goal of Georgia’s land lottery system introduced in the early 1800s?
Reserve land only for wealthy planters
Increase taxes on frontier settlements
Stop migration to western territories
Provide an equal chance to acquire land
In what year did Georgia begin distributing land by lottery to citizens?
1833 at the final drawing
1819 after gold discoveries
1795 before the Yazoo scandal
1803 under new distribution rules
Who was typically eligible to purchase chances to win opportunities to buy land in Georgia’s lotteries?
Foreign visitors and merchants
Only enslaved people and minors
Only plantation owners and judges
Most white males and certain families
According to the map, which earlier method distributed land in eastern Georgia before 1805?
Homestead acts after 1862
Headright grants from 1733–1804
Military bounty warrants
Railroad land sales in 1850s
Which years on the map mark the primary period when land lotteries operated in Georgia?
1805 to 1833 across much territory
1700 to 1720 during colonization
1776 to 1783 during the war
1848 to 1865 under Reconstruction
How many land lotteries did Georgia hold between 1805 and 1833?
Five annual county lotteries
Twelve monthly rotating lotteries
Two large regional lotteries
Eight separate statewide lotteries
Approximately what share of Georgia’s land was distributed to families through the lotteries by 1833?
Nearly all coastal plantations
Half of frontier counties
One-fifth of available acreage
Three-fourths of the state’s land
Which step best describes how citizens entered Georgia’s land lotteries?
Petitioned Congress for land grants
Traveled west and staked a claim
Filed lawsuits against land companies
Submitted their names and bought tickets
On the drawing day, how were winners determined in Georgia’s land lotteries?
Names and land lots were drawn from drums
Highest cash bids won available parcels
County officials selected recipients
Military rank determined priority order
Why might the land lottery system have appealed to poorer white settlers compared with earlier methods?
It offered a low-cost chance at land
It guaranteed large plantations
It limited access to coastal estates
It required owning many enslaved people
What does the geographic split on the map suggest about Georgia’s settlement patterns over time?
Northern mountains were first, coastlands last
Urban centers received most lottery parcels
Early settlement concentrated west, later expansion east
Early settlement concentrated east, later expansion west
What was the purpose of the headright system in Georgia?
To create a buffer zone of new settlers in GA’s backcountry
Grow Georgia’s population by giving away land
Established a method of counting population
Provided an organized system of collecting taxes
Events in which Georgians had the chance to win the right to buy land from the state were known as
headright systems
freedom fighters
land lotteries
Yazoo deals
