Georgia’s Early Settlers!
Second Grade Standard SS2H1: The student will read about and describe the lives of historical figures in Georgia’s history. Native Americans in Georgia
The Native Americans were the first people to live in Georgia. Two of the main groups were the Creek and Cherokee Native Americans. Creek Native Americans The Creek usually built their towns and villages along rivers and creeks, and that’s why they were called the Creek. Tomochichi was born in a Creek village. When he was nearly 90 years old, Tomochichi and the Yamacraw built a town along the Savannah River and called it Yamacraw Bluff since it was built on a bluff, or cliff. The Yamacraw people chose Tomochichi to be their leader of their village because he was honest and trustworthy.
Tomochichi (Georgia Historical Society) Tomochichi
When the English settlers moved near Tomochichi’s town, he kept peace with them. He let James Oglethorpe build a town nearby. He and Oglethorpe became friends. Oglethorpe invited Tomochichi to visit England with him. When he came back home, he asked the English settlers to help him build a school for the Yamacraw children. The school was opened in 1736.
Tomochichi (Georgia Historical Society) Tomochichi
Today Tomochichi is remembered for his help with the founding (the start) of Georgia. He kept peace in the new colony. He was a good leader to the Creek and the Yamacraw. The colony of Georgia may not have been built without his help!
Tomochichi (Georgia Historical Society) Coosaponakeesa A famous Creek woman who helped start the colony of Georgia was Coosaponakeesa (KOO sah poe nah KEE sah). Her mother was Creek, and her father was English. She was born in the Creek village of Coweta. When she was 10 years old, she moved with her father to an English settlement, and as a result she learned to speak English. Her English name was Mary. Because she could speak her Native American language as well as English, she became an interpreter and helped the Native Americans to communicate with the English settlers who moved to Georgia. Mary Musgrove Mary Musgrove started a trading post so the English settlers could trade with the Native Americans. The Creek traded deerskins for English goods such as tools, cloth, and metal pots.
By 1735, Musgrove was the richest woman in Georgia.
Today we remember Mary Musgrove for her help with the founding (start) of Georgia. James Oglethorpe
James Oglethorpe is considered the founder of Georgia. He was born in London, England, in 1696. That was over 300 years ago! He was born into a wealthy family. Since his family was wealthy, he was able to go to school as a child. Children from poor families could not go to school. Instead, they had to work to earn money for their family. James Oglethorpe was in Parliament. It was the government in England that made laws. He worked to protect poor people. James Oglethorpe
James Oglethorpe had compassion for poor people, prisoners, and debtors (people who could not pay money they owed someone else). Oglethorpe worked to get a lot of debtors out of prison, but when they got out, there were not enough jobs for them, so he decided to move to North America to start a colony that would provide jobs for people who needed work. King George II let Oglethorpe start a colony, so he named the new colony Georgia after King George II. James Oglethorpe
James Oglethorpe believed slavery was wrong. He made a rule that no one would be forced to work with being paid because he believed in liberty (freedom). Oglethorpe was given permission from Tomochichi to start his first town along the Savannah River. He named the town Savannah. He was able to communicate with Tomochichi and the other Creek because Mary Musgrove was their interpreter. James Oglethorpe
In 1739, the English colonists in Georgia went to war against the Spanish colonists in Florida. James Oglethorpe helped keep Georgia safe. Today we remember Oglethorpe as the founder of Georgia. We have schools, streets, and a statue in Savannah to honor James Oglethorpe. Cherokee Native Americans
Another famous Native American is Sequoyah. He was a Cherokee. Many of the Cherokee lived in the valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Georgia. Many also lived in Tennessee and Alabama. Sequoyah was born in what is now Tennessee. As a young man, Sequoyah set up a trading post so the Native Americans and settlers could trade goods. Sometimes people didn’t have enough money to pay, and Sequoyah showed compassion. He would let them have what they needed and allowed them to pay him later. Sequoyah
Sequoyah created the Cherokee alphabet. He showed that he had patience because it took many years to make his alphabet. It had 86 symbols! He sent his daughter to the Cherokee council in Georgia to teach the members about his invention. They approved of his alphabet, and Sequoyah went from village to village to teach people his alphabet. The first Cherokee newspaper was printed in New Echota, Georgia. It was called The Phoenix. Sequoyah
Sequoyah is still remembered today because of his writing system. The Cherokee were able to write down stories and record their history. There is a museum in Tennessee to honor Sequoyah. In 1984, the United States Post Office made a postage stamp with a picture of Sequoyah on it. The stamp cost 19 cents. Do you know how much stamps cost today? Forty-four cents! Native American Heritage Month (November)
We remember all of the Native Americans who started this country during Native American History Month. We also celebrate the accomplishments of this amazing group of people during the month of November.