Capital Cities of Georgia Multiple Choice Quiz | U.S. States & Cities

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Originally, the Georgia colony was governed by Trustees in England. But two leaders in Georgia could lay claim that their city was the de facto capital. The confusion ended in 1737 when the Trustees designated William Stephens, who lived in Savannah, as president of the colony. Who is the other leader, known to have originally settled in Savannah and the founder of the Georgia colony?

Answer: James Oglethorpe

Oglethorpe was one of the Trustees overseeing the colony, and the only one to have lived in the colony itself. He was seen as the de facto leader, and held so much sway that he was able to ban alcohol and slavery in the early colony. His anxiety over the Spanish's location in St. Augustine, however, led to his desire to establish a military presence further south to protect Savannah.

2. Now that you know who the other leader was can you also name the other city competing to be the de facto capital? What city did the founder establish on St. Simon's Island along with a fort to house regiments to battle the Spanish to the south? (Hint: Both the city and fort were named for King George II's oldest son)

Answer: Frederica

Oglethorpe's presence in Frederica has led many historians to view it as another capital of the state. Fort Frederica still stands, and was designated as a national monument in 1936. Now the fort is open to the public as a historic area of the National Park Service. However, the city of Frederica was mostly abandoned due to economic decline after the garrison was disbanded.

3. At the time of statehood in 1776, Savannah had been formally designated as the state capital.

Answer: False

No election or document formally designated Savannah as the capital city. Georgia's first State Constitution of 1777 only directed the state legislature to meet in Savannah, but allowed the legislature to meet elsewhere as it was decided. Savannah was simply the largest city in the state and had been where the government had convened for the last three decades.

4. As the inland communities began to grow, the center of government shifted away from Savannah. What city, now famous for hosting The Masters, officially became the state capital in 1785?

Answer: Augusta

The second capital city of Georgia was used as a meeting place for the government as early as 1778, during the American Revolutionary War. Following the end of the war, but preceding becoming the official capital, the legislature rotated meeting between Augusta and Savannah. Augusta would serve as the capital until 1796.

5. Louisville was designated as the third state capital of Georgia the same year Augusta became the second state capital. But the state government did not move there for another ten years. What "first" occurred at the third state capital?

Answer: Capitol Building

The first permanent capitol building was built in the red-brick Georgian architectural style. However, no renditions of the building exist other than as a backdrop to the burning of the Yazoo Act (1795). The building was later condemned and torn down after being used as a public arsenal, lodge, and county courthouse. On the site today stands the Jefferson County Courthouse with a plaque honoring the site of the first state capitol building.

6. The next capital city served as the capital for sixty years, much longer than its predecessors. What city, named for the governor in 1804, was Georgia's fourth capital?

Answer: Milledgeville

Milledgeville would go on to battle Atlanta to remain the state capital, or, after the capital moved, become the capital once more. The first vote to change from Milledgeville to now-Atlanta occurred in 1847, with Atlanta losing. During Reconstruction, though, innkeepers in Milledgeville refused to house Black delegates. That led General John Pope to order the General Assembly to meet in Atlanta.

7. The statehouse in Georgia's fourth capital city was built in the new Gothic revival style. What feature common to capitol buildings was missing from the statehouse?

Answer: Dome

The statehouse in Milledgeville looked more like a castle than a capitol building. Georgia Military College and the Antebellum Capitol Museum now call the building home. In 2000 renovations of the Old Capitol were complete, and in 2001 Milledgeville served as capital for a day to commemorate 250 years of representative government in Georgia.

8. During the American Civil War, General William T. Sherman burned down much of the state during his March to the Sea. Although he spared the capitol building from burning, the state government fled to other locations. What city temporarily hosted the state government during this time?

Answer: Macon

Macon never served as an official seat of the state government, and came in last place in the 1855 state-wide vote to decide the capital city. After Milledgeville was sacked by Gen. Sherman, many assumed Macon would be next. However, Sherman never went to Macon on his March to the Sea. Union forces did take the city later in 1865.

9. Just as Georgia has had several state capitals, the area now known as the city of Atlanta has had many names. After Colonel Stephen Harriman Long placed the stake in the ground marking where the railroad should terminate, a local businessman built homes and a general store nearby. What was the nickname for this settlement? (Hint: Atlanta's most recent hockey team played their games a block away)

Answer: Thrasherville

John Thrasher is the local businessman who also founded the city of Norcross. Thrasherville is located near the State Bar of Georgia, and a plaque commemorates the location. Thrasher also built the Monroe Embankment here, which is the oldest man-made structure still in existence in Atlanta.

Other names included Terminus and Marthasville.

10. Atlanta had a difficult time being named the fifth and final capital city of Georgia, losing votes in both the General Assembly and statewide. Which version of the Georgia Constitution officially ratified Atlanta as the fifth capital?

Answer: 1868 Constitution

Georgia has had 10 constitutions, seven of which were drafted by constitutional conventions, two by constitutional commissions, and one by the General Assembly's Office of Legal Counsel. The most recent version is the 1983 Constitution, which was a more robust revision incorporating over twenty years of debate and compromise, included old and new provisions.

Source: Author a_d_p

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.
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Capital Cities of Georgia Trivia Quiz

Georgia has had five official state capitals, but Atlanta serves as the 17th location of the Peach State's government. What do you know about the history of Georgia's capital cities?

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