By the late 1850s, Atlanta had already transformed from a rough railroad settlement into one of the South’s fastest-growing cities.

In this installment of Iron and Ambition, our ongoing series of the history of Atlanta, we explore the final years before the Civil War as the young city worked to keep pace with its remarkable growth.

Prosperity seemed to be the order of the day. New businesses opened, rail traffic increased, industry expanded, and each passing year brought fresh confidence that Atlanta’s future would continue to shine brightly.

Yet beyond the city limits, tensions were rising across the nation. As debates over slavery deepened and sectional divisions intensified, forces were already gathering that would soon reshape Atlanta’s destiny.

The city was busy planning its future. History, however, had plans of its own.

Join us as we close out the 1850s and set the stage for one of the most dramatic chapters in Atlanta history.

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