TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND THE IMPACT ON GEORGIA

The U.S. Grows

18031789

In 1803, Napoleon Bonaparte sold the Colony of Louisiana (828,000 sq. mi.) to President Thomas Jefferson for $15 million dollars. This land acquisition more than doubled the size of the United States.

United States Territory—1840

Cotton Gin Eli Whitney

Prior to the invention of the Cotton Gin, tobacco was one of Georgia’s most important crops, but it was destroying the soil.

Cotton was also a crop, but “deseeding” and cleaning the cotton was very time-consuming. Most farmers could not clean more than 1 pound of cotton per day.

The Cotton Gin could assist in removing seeds from 50 pounds of cotton in a day. This INCREASED the need for slaves, because farmers could now plant more cotton, making a larger profit. This also led to a westward expansion in the state.

Canals & Steamboats Canals were constructed

throughout the eastern United States in order to connect rivers and lakes to transport goods. The Erie Canal connected Lake Erie

to the Hudson River in New York.

Up until the 1820s, GA relied on rivers to transport goods long distances.

Canals were planned as an attempt to connect rivers in GA, but ultimately failed.

Railroads The state of Georgia decided

that railroads would better assist with transportation. Railroads would be a big part of

Georgia’s future. Georgia's rail history began in

the 1830s as America was just beginning to build a network of tracks.

By 1850 Georgia had the most rail miles of any southern state. During the Civil War, Georgia’s

many rail systems made the transportation of goods easy, making Atlanta the 2nd most important city in the Confederacy.

More than a century and a half later, it continues to be a railroad leader.

Did you know?Atlanta was originally named Terminus because several rail lines ended or terminated there? The city was renamed Atlanta after the Western & Atlantic railroad.

Impact on Georgia’s Economy How did all of these inventions impact

the economy of Georgia?

How did these things impact the size of the states’ population?

How did these inventions impact slavery?