THE FOUNDING OF GEORGIA

1. THE FOUNDING OF GEORGIA The 13th colony in British North America

2. THE FIRST INVADERS: Spanish conquistadors searching for gold explored the southeast and southwest NA in the 16th century. Hernando Desoto led the unsuccessful expedition in the SE (1539-1542). Afterwards, the Spanish largely left NA to the British and French.

4. Reasons for English colonies: 1. Increase the power of the monarch 2. Mercantilism 3. Religious freedom of individuals persecuted in Catholic countries

5. British Mercantilism • Mercantilism is an economic idea (policy) whereby a country tries to gain wealth by exporting more than the country imports. • Mercantilism runs counter to the idea of free trade • British colonies provided Britain with raw materials • Some of these materials were turned into manufactured goods • These goods would be resold to the colonists • Colonists were basically a “captive market”

6. Mercantilism • Draw a circle on the left side of the paper and label it American Colonies • Draw a circle on the right side and label it Great Britain. • Draw arrows showing that Britain engaged in trade with the American colonies. • Label the arrows to show the flow of trade: Raw Materials Finished Goods

7. Jamestown: 1607 The first permanent English settlement in NA. Formed as a joint-stock company the colony was poorly planned but did survive. Question: How many years between the first and last English colony’s settlement in NA?

8. Labor sources in the New World • Free Labor: Many English immigrates came as free men and owned small farms (yeoman farmers). Unusual on this scale at that time. • Indentured servants: Those who agreed to work for a number of years in exchange for passage to New World. • Slavery: First African slaves arrive 1619. Soon becomes main agricultural labor source.

9. James Oglethorpe : Founder of Georgia • Aristocratic English landowner • Wished to help the working poor • Encouraged formation of 13th colony • Lived at Savannah • Won battle of Bloody Marsh • Friend of Tomochichi’s

10. Reasons for the Founding of the colony of Georgia • Charity (philanthropy): Provide the worthy poor with a new start in life • Mercantilism: Provide Britain with raw materials. Georgia was to provide silk (mulberry) and indigo (blue dye). Also grapes, hemp, and other crops. • Defense: The new colony would be a defensive buffer between the Carolinas and Spanish Florida. • Religion (not stated in charter): Provide religious sanctuary (safety).

11. The Trustee Arrangement A trustee is legally responsible for the welfare of another person or institution Georgia was the only trustee colony in British NA The trustees were a group of wealthy men in Britain in charge of oversight of Ga.’s affairs (they were not paid)

12. Georgia’s Colonial Charter • A charter is a document that states the purpose of the organization or provides for its legal status • King George II signed in 1732 • Three reasons for colony stated in charter

13. Prohibitions, regulations and duties of Georgia’s colonists • Georgia colony was Oglethorpe's “utopian” vision for a community of sober, hard working, socially responsible protestant Christians. The colonists were discouraged from being “profit-minded” Several groups of people were banned including lawyers Catholics banned from colony • No hard liquor • No slavery • Limited land ownership (500 acres) • Only male heirs • No sale of land • Colonists had to pledge to join militia to defend colony

14. Savannah was very unusual in that it was a pre-planned city. Most of the planning was done in England. The plan was very English with a number of town squares devoted to some special purpose. Have you ever been to the squares in historic Savannah?

16. Life in colonial Georgia • The Anne landed at Yamacraw bluff in February 1733 after stopping off at Charleston. • Weather was rough, conditions were hard. • Within 6 months nearly 40% of colonists were dead. • Lack of potable water was a big problem until a well was sunk • Oglethorpe lived with the colonists and endured their trials

17. The Yamacraw Indians and the trader Mary Musgrove proved very important to the survival of the young colony. Question: What is a cultural liason? Oglethorpe meets with Tomochichi:Mary Musgrove is at center

18. The Malcontent Immigrants • Jewish Immigrants: Arrived 1733 and eventually founded one of the oldest synagogues in NA • Scotts at Darien: Very important as militia • Salzburgers: Fled persecution in Catholic Austria and settled in Georgia ( Picture: Lutheran Church at Ebenezer)

19. Battle of Bloody Marsh • In 1742 General Oglethorpe led a group of soldiers, many of them Scottish immigrants, to victory over a small Spanish force • Near Fort Fredericka on St Simons island • Because of terrain, battle gained its name • Part of War of Jenkin’s Ear (1742-44)

20. What happened to trustee Georgia? • Most colonists disliked colony regulations-particularly ban on slavery and landholding. • In 1750 trustees lifted slavery ban to try to save colony. • In 1752 trustees signed over control to British government • The noble experiment was over. Georgia was now a Royal colony.

21. Essential Questions or statements: • How did economics influence the settling of North America? • If you had been a trustee, how would you have changed the regulations to provide more incentive for the colonists? List at least one positive and one negative outcome of the founding of Georgia.