Atlanta History: From Native Lands to Civil Rights Hub

Atlanta: A Historical Summary

Indigenous Roots and Founding

• The land where Atlanta now stands was originally Cherokee and Creek territory until the forced removal of these tribes.
• The Creek tribe ceded the territory to the state of Georgia in 1821.
• Atlanta was founded in 1836 and officially became a city in 1847.

The Civil War Era

Atlanta as a Confederate Stronghold

During the Civil War, Atlanta's population reached 15,000, making it a vital railway junction and a leading supply center for Confederate troops. This strategic importance made it the primary target of General William Tecumseh Sherman's campaign from Chattanooga.

• Several major battles occurred near the city before its capture on September 1, 1864.
• Confederate General John Bell Hood evacuated the city after four months of siege by federal troops—an event immortalized in the novel Gone with the Wind (1936).
• Mayor James Calhoun surrendered the city to the invaders on September 7, 1864.
• On November 15, Sherman calcined almost the entire city before beginning his infamous March to the Sea.

Post-War Recovery and Capital Status

Atlanta recovered rapidly after the Civil War. It was chosen as the state capital in 1868, a decision finalized by a popular vote in 1877. By 1900, it had become the largest city in Georgia.

Significance in the Civil Rights Movement

Advocacy for Equality

Atlanta holds immense significance in the history of the African American population and the Civil Rights Movement:

• At the Cotton States and International Exposition of Atlanta (1895), Booker T. Washington delivered his 'Atlanta Commitment' speech, advocating for political and social equality in exchange for economic security.
• In the 1960s, Atlanta served as the central hub promoting the movement for people of color.
• In 1957, Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to strengthen the movement for racial conformity.
• Racial integration in Atlanta's schools was carried out peacefully between 1962 and 1969.
• In 1973, Atlanta became the first major city in the Southern United States to elect a Black mayor.

Modern Growth and the Olympics

Metropolitan Expansion

Although the population within the municipality of Atlanta declined slightly since the 1970s, its metropolitan area experienced exponential growth between 1980 and 1990.

Olympic Selection

Atlanta was selected as the venue for the Olympic Games on September 18, 1990, in Tokyo, Japan. Despite strong sentiment favoring Athens (celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first modern Games), the International Olympic Committee chose the American city, citing concerns over infrastructure completion timelines in Greece. This decision remained controversial, though Athens later hosted the Games in 2004.