Atlanta Ga Real Estate

Georgia’s colorful history continues to be important to the identity of Georgians and Atlantians alike. More than a few Atlanta Ga real estate agents have been quizzed by outsiders trying to understand Georgia. Of course, questions about the Civil War inevitably surface with all its controversy and tragedy.

Georgia’s economy was growing fast and Georgian’s were feeling comfortable with their culture and future. However, Georgia’s economy was founded on producing cotton and most cotton was picked by African American slaves. When Lincoln was elected President of the United States in 1860 the mood in the south was sour and wanted more independence from the federal government which was flexing its muscles increasingly with former colonies.

The Governor of Georgia, Joseph E. Brown, led the movement for Georgia’s succession from the union. And on January 19, 1861, Georgia seceded, becoming the fifth southern state to withdraw support for the Federal government. President Lincoln knew that this was the right time to free the slaves as some European nations had already begun legislating new laws freeing slaves and serfs.

The Union navy attacked the Georgia coast and closed the port of Savannah very early in the war. The secessionists called themselves confederates and confederate troops won the first major battle in the war in Georgia at a place called Chickamauga in 1863.

However, later in that year, the Unions most able General, General William T. Sherman, and his forces advanced steadily on Atlanta from another region they captured called Chattanooga, Tennessee. General Sherman captured Atlanta and then a month later, still facing confederate opposition, burned Atlanta Georgia real estate completely to the ground.

General Sherman and his forces were ruthless, desperate to keep the nation whole. His forces marched over what today is prime Atlanta Ga real estate all the way to the sea. They had not brought many supplies and so the Union army ravaged an area approximately 60 miles wide to the sea. They found food locally and looting and mayhem followed. Factories, buildings, mills, plantations and railroads were destroyed in an attempt to crush the Confederate rebels and end the destructive and divisive war.

Sherman captured Savannah in 1864 and the war soon ended. Reconstruction of the South was costly and the south experienced very difficult times, it has since been reconstrucred two more times. Some areas in Georgia remain mostly untouched, such as Stone Mountain Park, shown in the picture. Congress set up military rule in Georgia. They weren’t readmitted to the Union with full rights as a state until they agreed to Amendment 15 of the United States Constitution that lets any race vote in elections. They accepted this ammendment and have prospered since this acceptance as it served to rally the entire state together. Come bask in the natural beaty of Atlanta, Georgia - it can be found everywhere!