Georgia History Exemption Exam
Questions with Complete Answers
James Oglethorpe - ANSWER-Founder of Savannah (1733), and governor of the
Georgia colony. He ran a tightly-disciplined, military-like colony. Slaves, alcohol, and
Catholicism were forbidden in his colony. Many colonists felt that he was a dictator,
and that (along with the colonist's dissatisfaction over not being allowed to own
slaves) caused the colony to break down and he to lose his position as governor.
Georgia Trustees - ANSWER-They gave out land between the Savannah and
Altamaha Rivers. They also prohibited having rum and owning African Slaves.
Scottish Highlanders - ANSWER-- Added protection to GAs southern border
- fought with Oglethorpe to fight off the Spanish
Fletcher v. Peck - ANSWER-(1810) First time the Supreme Court ruled a state law
unconstitutional. It protected property rights and allowed the invalidation of state laws
that conflicted with the Constitution.
Worcester v. Georgia - ANSWER-(1832) US Supreme Court (esp. Frank Marshall)
held that Cherokee Native Americans were entitled to federal protection from the
actions of state governments which would infringe on the tribe's sovereignty. Ignored
blatantly by Andrew Jackson
Battle of Bloody Marsh - ANSWER-In 1742, Oglethorpe's forces, along with help
from the Highland Scots, surprised Spanish troops at St. Simon's Is;and and forced
them back across the Florida border. This marked the beginning of a safe southern
frontier for the British.
Battle of Kettle Creek - ANSWER-First colonial victory in Georgia on Feb. 14, 1779;
important to Georgia because it increased morale and the militia was able to take
horses and much needed weapons from the British
Yazoo Land Fraud - ANSWER-This scandal that took place in Georgia in the early
1800's & resulted in Georgia losing much land in what is now Alabama and
Mississippi
- Also made the western border of Georgia the Chattahoochee River?
James Vann - ANSWER-In 1800, while on an East Coast trip that included a visit to
Washington, D.C., Vann met a group of Moravian missionaries from North Carolina
who desired to spread the Gospel and teach Cherokee children. Vann convinced
them to move to Spring Place, south of the soon-to-be-built Vann House, to start a
mission and school. He presented his idea to the tribal council, in part so his two-
year old son Joseph might attend. That autumn the Moravians would have a school.
Many of the mixed-blood Cherokee supported Vann. The council vote was in favor of
the Moravians.
, Joseph Vann - ANSWER-Cherokee plantation owner, son of Chief James Vann, who
had his land confiscated because he hired a white man to work for him
Siege of Savannah - ANSWER-American Revolution battle in GA; loss for Georgia
as the militia and continental army failed to retake GA's capital city from British
control
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia - ANSWER-(1831) Established that Indian tribes are a
"domestic dependent nation" under the care of the U.S. Government and therefore
not a foreign nation with the right to sue in federal court
Treaty of Indian Springs - ANSWER-A treaty signed in 1825 by which the Lower
Creek gave up all their land east of the Oconee war
- where the creek Indians burned houses, stole cattle, and more - for $200,000
Sequoyah - ANSWER-Cherokee leader who developed the alphabet for the
Cherokee language.
Eugene Talmadge - ANSWER-GA Governor during the Great Depression; served 2
terms. Was popular among rural farmers, county unit system helped get him elected.
Was a white supremacist, tried to fire those who supported integration of schools.
Was against the New Deal; his opposition to it hurt rural farmers.
Three Governors Controversy - ANSWER-- Eugene Talmadge had served two terms
as governor and could not run again.
- Ellis Arnall was elected and served only one term
- Eugene ran, again, against him and won, but died before he was inaugurated.
- Newly elected Lt. governor Melvin Thompson believed he was to be governor since
the new state constitution stated the Lt. governor was to take over if the governor
could not
- Herman Talmadge (Eugene's son) was placed in office by the General Assembly.
- Ellis Arnall refused to leave office until the matter was settled.
- State supreme court stated General Assembly's action was unconstitutional, and
Thompson was placed in office until a special election was held.
- Herman Talmadge won the special election
Robert Toombs - ANSWER--A senator and extremist from Georgia who said that the
South would never let the federal government be controlled by the Republican party;
lead the fight for secession against Stephens; Whig party; a founding father of the
Confederacy. Writer of confederate constitution.
Georgia Gold Rush - ANSWER-The discovery of gold near the Georgia city
Dahlonega led to the forced removal of the Cherokee Indians (known as the Trail of
Tears)
Trail of Tears - ANSWER-In 1838 and 1839, as part of Andrew Jackson's Indian
removal policy, the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands east of the
Mississippi River and to migrate to an area in present-day Oklahoma. Devastating
effects, More than 4,000 perished
Questions with Complete Answers
James Oglethorpe - ANSWER-Founder of Savannah (1733), and governor of the
Georgia colony. He ran a tightly-disciplined, military-like colony. Slaves, alcohol, and
Catholicism were forbidden in his colony. Many colonists felt that he was a dictator,
and that (along with the colonist's dissatisfaction over not being allowed to own
slaves) caused the colony to break down and he to lose his position as governor.
Georgia Trustees - ANSWER-They gave out land between the Savannah and
Altamaha Rivers. They also prohibited having rum and owning African Slaves.
Scottish Highlanders - ANSWER-- Added protection to GAs southern border
- fought with Oglethorpe to fight off the Spanish
Fletcher v. Peck - ANSWER-(1810) First time the Supreme Court ruled a state law
unconstitutional. It protected property rights and allowed the invalidation of state laws
that conflicted with the Constitution.
Worcester v. Georgia - ANSWER-(1832) US Supreme Court (esp. Frank Marshall)
held that Cherokee Native Americans were entitled to federal protection from the
actions of state governments which would infringe on the tribe's sovereignty. Ignored
blatantly by Andrew Jackson
Battle of Bloody Marsh - ANSWER-In 1742, Oglethorpe's forces, along with help
from the Highland Scots, surprised Spanish troops at St. Simon's Is;and and forced
them back across the Florida border. This marked the beginning of a safe southern
frontier for the British.
Battle of Kettle Creek - ANSWER-First colonial victory in Georgia on Feb. 14, 1779;
important to Georgia because it increased morale and the militia was able to take
horses and much needed weapons from the British
Yazoo Land Fraud - ANSWER-This scandal that took place in Georgia in the early
1800's & resulted in Georgia losing much land in what is now Alabama and
Mississippi
- Also made the western border of Georgia the Chattahoochee River?
James Vann - ANSWER-In 1800, while on an East Coast trip that included a visit to
Washington, D.C., Vann met a group of Moravian missionaries from North Carolina
who desired to spread the Gospel and teach Cherokee children. Vann convinced
them to move to Spring Place, south of the soon-to-be-built Vann House, to start a
mission and school. He presented his idea to the tribal council, in part so his two-
year old son Joseph might attend. That autumn the Moravians would have a school.
Many of the mixed-blood Cherokee supported Vann. The council vote was in favor of
the Moravians.
, Joseph Vann - ANSWER-Cherokee plantation owner, son of Chief James Vann, who
had his land confiscated because he hired a white man to work for him
Siege of Savannah - ANSWER-American Revolution battle in GA; loss for Georgia
as the militia and continental army failed to retake GA's capital city from British
control
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia - ANSWER-(1831) Established that Indian tribes are a
"domestic dependent nation" under the care of the U.S. Government and therefore
not a foreign nation with the right to sue in federal court
Treaty of Indian Springs - ANSWER-A treaty signed in 1825 by which the Lower
Creek gave up all their land east of the Oconee war
- where the creek Indians burned houses, stole cattle, and more - for $200,000
Sequoyah - ANSWER-Cherokee leader who developed the alphabet for the
Cherokee language.
Eugene Talmadge - ANSWER-GA Governor during the Great Depression; served 2
terms. Was popular among rural farmers, county unit system helped get him elected.
Was a white supremacist, tried to fire those who supported integration of schools.
Was against the New Deal; his opposition to it hurt rural farmers.
Three Governors Controversy - ANSWER-- Eugene Talmadge had served two terms
as governor and could not run again.
- Ellis Arnall was elected and served only one term
- Eugene ran, again, against him and won, but died before he was inaugurated.
- Newly elected Lt. governor Melvin Thompson believed he was to be governor since
the new state constitution stated the Lt. governor was to take over if the governor
could not
- Herman Talmadge (Eugene's son) was placed in office by the General Assembly.
- Ellis Arnall refused to leave office until the matter was settled.
- State supreme court stated General Assembly's action was unconstitutional, and
Thompson was placed in office until a special election was held.
- Herman Talmadge won the special election
Robert Toombs - ANSWER--A senator and extremist from Georgia who said that the
South would never let the federal government be controlled by the Republican party;
lead the fight for secession against Stephens; Whig party; a founding father of the
Confederacy. Writer of confederate constitution.
Georgia Gold Rush - ANSWER-The discovery of gold near the Georgia city
Dahlonega led to the forced removal of the Cherokee Indians (known as the Trail of
Tears)
Trail of Tears - ANSWER-In 1838 and 1839, as part of Andrew Jackson's Indian
removal policy, the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands east of the
Mississippi River and to migrate to an area in present-day Oklahoma. Devastating
effects, More than 4,000 perished
