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===The General Assembly in Savannah===
By January of 1776, Savannah had become the capital of Georgia when the former colony declared independence from Britain. The legislature, a unicameral body, met there in 1777 and 1778 only to retreat to Augusta when the British captured the city. Yet, they were not settled long in that city when, in 1779, the British captured Augusta. The city of Augusta changed hands three times during the war, finally returning to American possession in July of 1781. They stayed in Augusta until May 1782 when the British left Savannah, thus allowing the legislature to return to the capital.<ref>[http://www.sos.state.ga.us/state_capitol/capitolguide/handout21.htm The Capitalization of Georgia http://sos.state.ga.us], accessed February 5,
===Move to Augusta===
Between 1783 and 1785, the Georgia General Assembly met in both Savannah and Augusta; the primary cause for the moves arose when tensions were created between the cities of Savannah and Augusta causing then Governor Lyman Hall to officially reside in both places. On February 22, 1785, the General Assembly held its last meeting in Savannah. Augusta had become the official capital because of pressure from the general populace to have their capital in the center of the state.<ref>[http://www.sos.state.ga.us/state_capitol/capitolguide/handout21.htm The
===On to Louisville===
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With the spread of the population, it was felt that Georgia's capital needed to move as well. A commission was appointed by the legislature in 1786 to find a place that was centrally located. The commission recommended Louisville, which would become Georgia's first planned capital and would hold her first capitol building. Due to the fact that the capital would have to be built from the ground up, and because of numerous construction delays, it took a decade to build the city. The name Louisville was chosen by the General Assembly in honor of King [[Louis XVI]] for France's aid during the [[Revolutionary War]].
The new state house, a two-story 18th century Gregorian building of red brick, was completed in 1796. The Legislature designated Louisville the "permanent seat" of Georgia government. Yet, further western expansion created the need for another new state capital. The capitol building was purchased by Jefferson County and used as a courthouse, but the building had to be torn down because it became unsound. A plaque marks the ___location of the old Capitol.<ref>[http://www.sos.state.ga.us/state_capitol/capitolguide/handout21.htm The
===The Assembly arrives in Milledgeville===
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In 1804, the state government realized that yet another capital, would be needed. As a result, An act was passed which authorized a new capital city to be built on 3,240 acres in the area currently known as [[Baldwin County, Georgia|Baldwin County]]. The new city was named Milledgeville in honor of Governor [[John Milledge]].
The new capitol building took two years to build. The capitol was a Gothic Revival style building made of brick. The legislature passed the Secession Act on January 19, 1861 and joined the Confederacy while serving in that capitol at Milledgeville. With General Sherman's approach, the members of the General Assembly adjourned in the fall of 1864, later reconvening briefly in Macon in 1865. As the [[American Civil War]] finally came to a close and with the federal government controlling Georgia’s government, the legislature rereconvened at the Capitol in Milledgeville.<ref>[http://www.sos.state.ga.us/state_capitol/capitolguide/handout21.htm The
===Atlanta===
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In 1867, Major General John Pope, military governor of Georgia, called for an assembly in Atlanta to discuss a constitutional convention. It was at this time that Atlanta officials again moved to make the city Georgia's new state capital. The constitutional convention agreed and the people voted to ratify the decision on April 20, 1868. The Georgia General Assembly first presided in Atlanta on July 4, 1868.
In 1884 the legislature appropriated one million dollars to build a new state capitol. Construction began on October 26, 1884 and the building was completed and occupied on June 15, 1889.<ref>[http://www.sos.state.ga.us/state_capitol/capitolguide/handout21.htm The
==Organization and procedure of the General Assembly==
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