1. Cotton and the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney in 1793 invented a machine for separating cotton seeds from its fiber
Increased the amount cotton growers could process each day
The gin used wire teeth on a turning cylinder to separate the seed from fiber
The invention resulted in the need for more slaves. Slave population drastically increased in the South.

2. The Mechanical Reaper
Cyrus McCormick invented a machine to cut grain in a field
Wooden paddles attached to a horse’s harness allowed six times more grain to be cut per day than previous methods
Georgia farmers could work larger and more profitable farms with these agricultural machines

3. RAILROADS 1830 First locomotive service – Charleston, SC
1833 GA General Assembly approved 2 companies to build railroads
GA RR Co – west from Augusta to Madison, Eatonton, & Athens (reached Athens 1841)
Central of GA RR – Savannah to Macon (reached Macon 1843)

4. RAILROADS CON’T
Western & Atlantic (W&A) RR connected Augusta, Macon, Milledgeville & Columbus
RR end = Terminus, later Marthasville
1847 Marthasville grew – over 400 people
Name not appropriate for RR center….changed to Atlanta after Western & Atlantic
W&A connected Atlanta to Chattanooga

5. RAILROADS CON’T
1853 Atlanta & West Point RR linked Georgia’s RR system to Alabama

6. Terminus
Located at the southern end of a rail line that originated in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Later renamed Marthasville, after the daughter of former Governor Wilson Lumpkin
Marthasville became Atlanta, and the capital of Georgia
Rail lines greatly reduced travel time for people and freight
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7. WATERWAYS Savannah River – most important
Rivers – North to South paths
Trading cities developed on rivers
Milledgeville on Oconee
Macon on Ocumulgee
Augusta on Savannah
Columbus on Chattahoochee

8. ROADS 1775 First Road Law—men, ages 16-60, had to help maintain roads
Most Georgia roads ran east to west; they were former Indian footpaths
Plank roads over wetlands that featured “pikes” or gates were called turnpikes
Travelers paid a toll, or fee at each pike; the Old Federal Road connected Athens north to Tennessee

9. Depression and the Panic of 1837
Many Georgia banks failed between 1837 and the early 1840s
This happened during a depression (a sharp economic downturn)
Many business failed; many farmers and planters lost their land
Many banks didn’t have enough cash to pay out money their depositors had entrusted to them

10. Application Activity
Write a paragraph addressing how the Cotton Gin impacted the increase in the slave population.
The rise of railroads in the early 1800’s was a significant advancement to transport goods from one place to another which significantly impacted their lives. What technological advancement today (within 5-10 years) has made a significant impact on our daily lives?
Most Important - Based on what we have studied yesterday and today, which had the most impact on the development of Georgia? Why? Explain.
Today we will be learning about westward expansion because without expansion Cobb County would not be here, therefore we would not be here in Cobb.