January 2, 1788 - Georgia enters Union“Georgia votes to ratify the U.S. Constitution, beco

January 2, 1788 - Georgia enters Union

“Georgia votes to ratify the U.S. Constitution, becoming the fourth state in the modern United States. Named after King George II, Georgia was first settled by Europeans in 1733, when a group of British debtors led by English philanthropist James E. Oglethorpe traveled up the Savannah River and established Georgia’s first permanent settlement–the town of Savannah. In 1742, as part of a larger conflict between Spain and Great Britain, Oglethorpe defeated the Spanish on St. Simons Island in Georgia, effectively ending Spanish claims to the territory of Georgia.

Georgia, rich in export potential, was one of the most prosperous British colonies in America and was thus slower than the other colonies to resent the oppressive acts of the Parliament and King George III. However, by the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, Georgian Patriots had organized, and delegates were sent to the Second Continental Congress. During the war, Georgia was heavily divided between Loyalists and Patriots, and the British soon held most of the state. Savannah served as a key British base for their southern war operations, and the grim four-year British occupation won many Georgians over to the Patriot cause. In 1788, Georgia became the first southern state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.”

-History.com

This week in History:
December 30, 1862 - USS Monitor sinks
December 31, 1879 - Edison demonstrates incandescent light
January 1, 1876 - First modern Mummer’s Parade
January 2, 1974 - Nixon signs national speed limit into law
January 3, 1959 - Alaska admitted into Union
January 4, 1965 - LBJ envisions Great Society in State of Union Address
January 5, 1933 - Golden Gate Bridge is born

Thismap of Georgia from 1827 can be found in the online collection of the Columbus Museum.