Geography: You Should Be Able to Explain

Geography: You should be able to explain…

How many time zones there are in the world- 24
The purpose of both longitude and latitude- to provide an absolute location
The locations of the most important lines in measuring with longitude and latitude:

oPrime Meridian- The start of longitude lines- Zero degrees longitude

oEquator- The start of latitude lines- Zero degrees latitude

oInternational Date Line

The difference between cardinal and intermediate directions and give examples of each Cardinal Directions are North, East, South, West. Intermediate directions are in between, such as Northeast, Southeast, etc.
The unique features of each of Georgia’s five geographic regions

oThe largest? Coastal Plains

oMost populated? Piedmont

oHighest elevations? Blue Ridge

oBiggest agricultural producer? Coastal Plains

The location of each of Georgia’s bordering states and rivers

-Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama touch Georgia’s borders

-Savannah River creates part of Georgia’s border with South Carolina
-St. Mary’s River creates part of Georgia’s border with Florida
-Chattahoochee River creates part of Georgia’s border with Alabama

The unique features of the Fall Line

oWhat is it? Drop in elevation and location of Georgia’s prehistoric shoreline

oWhat important cities are located on it? Columbus, Macon, Augusta

oWhy are there cities located on it? The rivers create a source of power and it is difficult to travel over in boats

Why Georgia’s climate is good for business- it is consistently mild; no extremes
The name and functions of Georgia coastal islands

oWhat is the nickname of the islands? Barrier

oHow do they protect the mainland? They block much of the wind, sands, and water that could cause erosion on the mainland.

The unique features of Georgia’s landscape

oHighest point? Brasstown Bald

oLargest wetland? Okefenokee Swamp

The function of Georgia’s aquifers to store groundwater for future use

Prehistory: You should be able to explain…

How carbon-14 dating is used and what it is used for to determine the age of items that were once living.
The differences between artifacts, primary sources, and secondary sources
Primary- diary or letter from the Civil War

Secondary- Textbook or novel about the Civil War

How and why the first humans arrived in North America

oWhen did they arrive? 10,000 – 30,000 B.C.

oHow did they get here? It is believed that they crossed a land bridge known as Beringia

oWhere did they come from? Asia

oWhy did they come here? In search of food

The names of the four prehistoric eras in Southeastern Native American cultures in the proper order, and what each was like
Paleo – knives, scrapers, and points for spears

Archaic – drills, choppers, chipping tools weighted spears, pottery
Woodland- made longer lasting pottery by firing it, held religious ceremonies
Mississippian- grew most of their food

The developments that were made in each era and how they affected the natives’ lifestyle

oAtlatl- allowed spears to be thrown at a greater distance making it safer to hunt large game

oPottery- changed food preparation and storage

oBow and Arrow- made hunting easier

oAgriculture- allowed them to stay in one place longer

Why we believe the natives practiced religion and believed in life after death – their burial mounds contained tools, tobacco, pipes, weapons

Exploration: You should be able to explain…

Why did explorers wanted to find a water route to Asia, and who made them interested in the region in the first place Explorers wanted to find a quicker route to China for exotic eastern goods. Marco Polo
Columbus’ misconceptions about where he had voyaged Columbus believed he had landed in India.
Who the first European to explore U.S. soil was and why he was here Ponce de Leon discovered Florida while looking for the Fountain of Youth.
The motivations for explorers when coming to the New World Explorers were looking for riches, exotic goods, and fertile lands.
The difference between prehistory and history, and what caused Georgia’s prehistory to end Prehistory is the time before history was written down. Hernando de Soto began recording his travels.
The impact of European explorations on the Native Americans The explorers brought disease and sickness to the Native Americans.

Colonization: You should be able to explain…

The countries that were major colonizers of the New World Spain, France and England
Which European settlement is the oldest in the U.S. and who was responsible for its creation Spanish settlers created St. Augustine
Who was responsible for proposing the Georgia colony and why was he inspired to do so James Oglethorpe (from England) proposed a new colony so debtors would have a new start in life.
What other European nation occupied our coast before England, what they called this area, and what they used it for? The Spanish first established missions here.
The English plan for mercantilism and why colonies helped this economic system The English planned to export more than they imported.
The voyage of the first Georgia colonists to the New World

oShip’s name? The Anne

oPoint(s) of arrival? Yamacraw Bluff

oLocation chosen for settlement?

The negotiations involved in Georgia’s first settlement

oWho was involved? James Oglethorpe and Tomochichi

oWho translated? John and Mary Musgrove

How Georgia’s leadership was different than every other English colony A group of trustees set up rules and regulations for Georgia, but James Oglethorpe was the only trustee to come to GA
What the various sources of discontent among the Georgia colonists were the land was not the same as it was presented on paper; disease and the only doctor died; not allowed to own slaves;
The crops that were farmed in attempts at profit in the Georgia colony Mulberry trees; grapes; hemp, indigo, flax
The different groups of colonists that came to Georgia and what each contributed: Moravians, Salzburgers, Portuguese Jews, Scottish Highlanders The Scottish Highlanders added protection at Georgia’s southern border; The Jews from Portugal brought a doctor; Salzburgers settled New Ebenezer and grew crops, Moravians just added to the population
What conflict took place between the English and Spanish in the Georgia colony The Battle of Bloody Marsh
The characteristics of each colonial region: New England, Middle, Southern

New England colonies had rugged terrain, rocky soil, and a short growing season

Middle colonies had the largest cities (New York and Philadelphia)

Southern colonies were the most agricultural

oWhich region had the coolest climate? New England

oWhich had the best agriculture? Southern

oWhich had the largest cities? Middle

oWhich had the best schools? New England

How the Headright System was used to distribute land in the early Georgia colony Each white male was counted as the “head” of the household and had the “right” to receive up to 1000 acres.

American Revolution: You should be able to explain…

How the end of the French & Indian War led to the American Revolution Great Britain was taxing the colonies, trying to recover money and get out of debt from the war
The various sources of conflict between the colonies and Britain Debate about: who should be king, free-trade with other countries, representation in Parliament
The events surrounding the Boston Massacre -Redcoats killed colonial civilians
The various groups on each side of the debate between the colonies and Britain: Whigs/Patriots -Colonist who were against the British and ready to cut ties with Great Britain Tories/Loyalists -those who were loyal to the King of England
Why Georgia did not send delegates to the First Continental Congress Georgia was young and still felt close to British government
Who Georgia sent to the Second Continental Congress and what the result of the meeting was Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, & George Walton all signed the Declaration of Independence
The role of Nancy Hart in the American Revolution Nancy Hart disarmed a group of Tories; shot and killed one; and held them at gunpoint until help arrived.
What occurred at the Battle of Kettle Creek and what significant personalities were involved in the conflict Austin Dabney was a free born mulato who joined the war in place of another man (Harris). He was a good soldier who later received land for his service in the war.

Government: You should be able to explain

What document outlined the first government for the United States and the problems with it Article of Confederation
Who represented Georgia at the Constitutional Convention of 1787: William Few and Abraham Baldwin
The important compromises that took place during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, why each was needed, and the details of each

o3/5 Compromise- states could not agree on the issue of slave population counting towards representation in the House of Reps. This compromise determined that only ⅗s of all slaves would be counted

oThe Great Compromise- states could not agree on equal or proportional representation. This led to the creation of a bicameral Congress.

Why a system of checks & balances was added to the Constitution -to keep one branch of the government from overpowering the other.
How the addition of The Bill of Rights to the Constitution helped the document get ratified by the states- the new constitution provided a method for amending or changing the U.S. Constitution as times and circumstances dictated. The B.O.R. is the first amendments made providing a list of rights that the government cannot take away,
The names of our three governmental branches and the functions of each

oWhich has the most people involved? Executive

oWhich makes the laws? legislative

oWhich settles debates over the law? Judicial

What served as the model for the government of Georgia U.S. Constitution
The expenses of Georgia government

oWhat is the largest expense? Public Education

oHow does the government spend money on the environment? establishing state parks

The requirements for running for governor of Georgia 30, citizen of the U.S. for 15 years, resident of Georgia for 6 years
The sequence of steps in a bill becoming a law: Draft, bill introduced in house of sponsor, assigned to committee for consideration, floor consideration, Governor sign or veto
The options a legislative committee has when dealing with a bill
hold and not release it to the house, vote the bill out of committee and recommend it be passed, vote the bill out of committee and recommend it NOT be passed, can make changes and vote the new version out of consideration, in the house only it can vote the bill out of committee (killed)
The important individual jobs in the General Assembly

oPresiding officers- determine order of business, control debate, rule out proposed amendments to bills, enforce rules of procedure, control meeting times and recesses, order a roll call on any issue

oParty leaders-

oParty whips- to keep their party together on important issues

oAdministration floor leaders

The function of appellate courts and examples of appellate courts in Georgia
The difference between a delinquent juvenile and an unruly juvenile
Delinquent is an act that would be considered a crime if done by an adult

Unruly is an act that would NOT be considered a crime if done by an adult

How a juvenile guilty of one of Georgia’s Seven Deadly Sins is treated differently- tried as an adult
The different levels of crime in Georgia and their names

Felony- serious crime such as murder or burglary, punishable by a year or more in prison, a fine of at least$1,000 or both.
Misdemeanor- is a less serious crime punishable by less than a year in prison, a fine less than a

The two major categories of court case in Georgia: Civil and Criminal
The governmental purpose of counties in Georgia set up to carry out certain governmental functions
The five cities that have served as Georgia’s capital- Savannah, Augusta, Louisville, Milledgeville, Atlanta

Age of Expansion: You should be able to explain…

What happened during the Yazoo Land Fraud and its result As part of a bribe, legislators sold the land for pennies on the dollar. When the public found out, there were protest, and later the legislators were voted out of office.
The origin of the city of Atlanta

oHow did it start? it was the location where the Western and Atlantic Railroad ended

oWhat were its previous names Terminus

Who invented the cotton gin and what it does Eli Whitney. Separated the cotton from the seeds
The impact of the cotton gin on the economy of Georgia Speed up work done by hand accelerating the amount of cotton that could be produced, leading to a greater need for more cotton to be grown
The significance of the founding of the University of Georgia it became a land grant university and the oldest school of its kind in the nation
The three modern Native American tribes that lived in Georgia: Seminole, Creek, and Cherokee
The role of General Andrew Jackson in the conflict with the Native Americans in Georgia Fought against the Creek in the Battle of Horseshoe bend and signed the Indian Removal Act
The significance of Sequoyah to the history of the Cherokee developed a system of writing for the Cherokee
The role of Creek Chief William McIntosh in Native American removal from Georgia He worked out the terms of the Treaty of Indian Springs ceeding the last of Creek lands
How the discovery of gold in Georgia impacted Indian removal- a law was passed that put placed part of Cherokee lands under state control, and a law was passed that refused the Cherokee any right to gold mined in Dahlonega
How Supreme Court Justice John Marshall attempted to help the Cherokee He ruled that the Cherokee territory was not subject to state law
The laws passed by Congress that sped up the removal of the Native Americans Indian Removal Act
What occurred during the Trail of Tears Indians were forced to remove west of the Mississippi River

Antebellum: You should be able to explain…

The connection between the growth of the cotton industry, the demand for land, and the increasing number of slaves in Georgia. The growth of the cotton industry and plantations led to the increased need for slaves.
The meaning of states’ rights and describe which area of the country supported them Southern states supported states’ rights which means each state should make its own decisions, not the nation.
Which area of the country supported high tariffs on imports and why this was the case The North supported high tariffs on imports. Items made in the north would cost less than imported ones.
What the southern practice of nullification was and why southern states did so The southern states had the right to nullify and federal law that they thought was unconstitutional.
The causes and results of the Missouri Compromise Missouri Compromise allowed Missouri to enter the country as a slave state, and Maine as a free state, and the 36*30’N became the dividing line between free states and slave states.
The causes and results of the Compromise of 1850 In the compromise California became a free state, which was good for the north and the Fugitive Slave Law was passed, which helped slave owners.
Who the most outspoken and active abolitionists in the United States were Sojourner Truth,

Harriett Beecher Stowe, William Lloyd Garrison

What occurred during the election of 1860 and why it further separated the nation Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican president. He won the election with votes from only part of the country. The election of 1860 led to the secession of southern states.
The events surrounding Georgia’s secession convention

oWhy was it held? To decide if Georgia should secede

oWho attended? Mostly planters

oWhat were its results? They voted to secede from the Union and formed a new nation called the Confederate States of America

The Civil War: You should be able to explain…

The role of Georgian, Alexander Stephens both before the war began and after it had started
Before the war he supported Georgia staying in the Union, he then became Vice President of the confederacy
Where the first shots of the Civil War were fired and why this was the case Fort Sumter
Which bloody battle took place in North Georgia and Tennessee Chickamauga
The strategy of the Union used to cut off supplies into the Confederacy Union Blockage/Naval Blockade
The material advantages of the north during the war larger populations/greater industry and weaponry
The significance of Andersonville Prison

oWho was there? Union prisoners of War