Wikijunior:North America/United States/Georgia

The Location of Georgia

The State of Georgia is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. Georgia is bordered on the south by Florida; on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and South Carolina; on the west by Alabama and by Florida in the extreme southwest; and on the north by Tennessee and North Carolina. Atlanta is the most populous city, and the capital.

The Flag of Georgia

History

Georgia has had ten different constitutions in her history. Prior to having a formal constitution a document entitled Rules and Regulations of the Colony of Georgia was drafted in 1776. A year later, in 1777, another constitution was drafted followed by the constitutions of 1789, 1798, 1861, 1868, 1877, 1945, 1976 and 1983. All prior constitutions up until 1945 were drafted by constitutional convention. That year Governor Ellis Arnall appointed a twenty-three member commission devised of all three branches of government to write a new constitution.

State Symbols

Georgia's nicknames include Peach State and Empire State of the South. The state song, "Georgia On My Mind" by Hoagy Carmichael, was originally written about a woman of that name, but after Georgia native Ray Charles sang it, the state legislature voted it the state song on 24 April 1979. Ray Charles sang it on the legislative floor when the bill was passed. This act was significant in that it symbolized to many the move away from segregation and racism. The state commemorative quarter was released on 19 July 1999.[76] The first houses in Georgia to be designated historic state landmarks are the Owens Thomas House and the Sorrel Weed House, in the Savannah historic district. The state 'possum is Pogo Possum.[77]