Economic Growth in Georgia
Chapter 6 Section 3
EQ: What were the intended consequences of the technological innovations in the early 1800’s and
how did these innovations impact the economy and population growth in Georgia?
SS8H5 The student will explain significant factors that affected the development of Georgia as part of
the growth of the United States between 1789 and 1840.
c. Explain how technological developments, including the cotton gin and railroads, had an impact on
Georgia’s growth.
SS8E2 The student will explain the benefits of free trade.
a. Describe how Georgians have engaged in trade in different historical time periods.
Define the following:
 Industrial Revolution – The development of mechanized farming tools, steamboats, and railroad
engines and the many advances in industry, business and commerce.
 Eli Whitney
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Cotton Gin
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Cyrus McCormick
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Mechanical Reaper
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Terminus
Farming pg. 179 – 180
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What was the issue of land ownership in Georgia? During the Revolutionary War land was taken
away from the Tories. When the British regained control of Georgia, they gave the land back to the
Tories. After the war former Tories land was given to Revolutionary War soldiers as payment for
their service. It took some time to figure out who actually could keep the land.
What two agricultural crops were in great demand after the Revolutionary War?
Cotton and Tobacco
Over the next 30 years, cotton would become “___King______” in the south.
A Man Named Eli pg. 180-181
 What year did Eli Whitney invent the Cotton Gin? 1793

What was the purpose of the Cotton Gin? A machine that cleaned the cotton seeds from the
cotton fiber faster than if cleaned by hand.
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What was the impact of the Cotton Gin? Before its invention, a worker could separate six or seven
pounds of cotton a day. After, workers could separate fifty pounds of cotton a day.

The Mechanical Reaper pg. 181
Who invented the mechanical reaper? Cyrus McCormick

What was the purpose of the mechanical reaper? The reaper had wooden paddles fastened to a
horse, that when pulled through the fields would cut the grain. A farmer could harvest six times
more grain a day than if cut by hand.

What was the impact of the mechanical reaper? This invention enabled Georgians to work larger
and more profitable farms.
Transportation pg. 181- 182
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A major economic development during the early 1800s was the building of _ railroads ______.
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Before the railroads were built, people traveled on __horses__, __boats__, or __stagecoaches,__.
Freight was set to market by __riverboats, __ferries__, or __wagon trains__.
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What are turnpikes? The federal government built highways in the 1800s where travels had to pay
a fee at each pike, or gate, to remain on the road.

Which railroad company owned the majority of rail lines in Georgia? Western and Atlantic
Railroad.
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What is Terminus? The Western Atlantic ran from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the Chattahoochee
River; Terminus. This meant it was the end of the railroad line. This eventually became Atlanta.
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What was the impact of the railroads? The railroads dramatically shortened travel time for
passengers and freight, reducing travel time to hours that had previously taken days.