The Founding of Georgia

The Founding of Georgia Georgia the 13th Colony James Oglethorpe

Colonization of Ga. • England 1st claimed Ga. in 1663, but it wasn’t until 1717 that the British made plans to settle there. • Sir Robert Montgomery, a nobleman from Scotland, and 2 partners, poet Aaron Hill and merchant Amos Kettleby, wanted to create a new colony. • Montgomery’s dream was to have, “the most delightful country of the universe where coffee, tea, figs, olives, rice, almonds, and silk” would produce income for the British economy. • He planned to settle an area that was W of the Savannah River and ran to the Altamaha River.

Colonization of Ga. • Montgomery’s plan seemed good but he didn’t have the cash to supply this dream. • There were several other attempts by other folks to settle the area but none were successful until the 1720’s when James Edward Oglethorpe began to talk of a colony for the “working poor”.

James Oglethorpe • James Oglethorpe was born in England in 1696. • At age 25, Oglethorpe was elected to Parliament and learned about numerous problems facing his country. • In 1722 there were a lot of English citizens and not a whole lot of jobs. This made it hard for the people to pay off the debts they owed to other people and to financial institutions. • Laws about debtors were strict and those that couldn’t pay went to jail. • JEO believed that debtors shouldn’t go to jail. • He worked and got 1,000s of debtors out of prison. • One of Oglethorpe’s friends, Robert Castell, was put in prison for being a debtor (a person who owes someone money that they can not pay back). Castell later died in prison. • Oglethorpe and 20 other influential men in Great Britain made a plan to create a colony for the working poor (debtors). They envisioned a colony for people who faced jail time for bad debts.

James Oglethorpe • Debtors Prison- many prisons in England were full of people who owed money. • Some of Oglethorpe’s friends were in debtors prison and had also died in prison.

James Edward Oglethorpe But just letting folks out of jail didn’t help them because there still were no jobs and they still couldn’t pay their debt. JEO, Lord John Percival, and 19 other men outlined a plan that promised a fresh start in the New World to “unfortunate but worthy individuals” They borrowed this plan from Dr. Thomas Bray who thought that a colony should be formed for the people that were in a lot of debt.

Reasons for Founding Georgia • In the summer of 1730 JEO and 21 men asked King George the 2nd for some land, “Southwest of Carolina for settling poor persons of London.” • Charter- written document by the king granting certain rights • For Oglethorpe this charter meant to establish a colony. (Georgia) • Oglethorpe and his friends saw the colony serving several purposes.

Reasons for Founding Georgia • Economic – he convinced King George II that the colony could produce goods like silk, cotton dyes, and wine which England had to import from other countries. • Protection barrier- (Buffer Zone)Oglethorpe believed the new colony could be a protective barrier against the Spanish. • Charity- people in debtors prison would have a place to go and work to pay debt. • Religion- an opportunity to spread the Protestant religion to the Indians.

It’s approved!!!!!! • June 7, 1732 King George 2nd granted a charter making JEO’s group of 21 trustees responsible for establishing the colony of Georgia and for managing it for 21 years. • Trustees- people who hold responsibility on behalf of others. • Charter- legal document that gives special rights and privileges to the members and conditions listed in the document. • This charter gave JEO “all those lands, Countries and Territories between the Savannah and the Altamaha rivers extending westward to the south seas (Pacific Ocean).”

The Charter of 1732 • Charter granted to Oglethorpe which established the conditions under which the colony would be established. • The colony would be ruled by a group of trustees for 21 years.(people who hold responsibilities for others)

The Charter of 1732 • Trustees could not own land, hold political office or receive money for work. • Catholics, black slaves, lawyers, and liquor dealers were not permitted in the colony. • Blacks were not admitted so as not to introduce slavery to the colony. • Liquor dealers were excluded cause the trustees felt the people wouldn’t work if they had too much to drink. • They wanted colonists to settle their probs out of court and not involve lawyers. • All authority belonged to King George, trustees could make no laws. • They worked around some of the rules by not having a governor and by using regulations -gov orders instead of laws.

Charter recap • Limited the Trustees’ authority. • Made them managers for 21 years. • They couldn’t make any money off of the colonization of Ga. • Despite the limits, JEO and the Trustees were excited and developed the “Georgia Plan for Colonization.”

Preparation for the Voyage • Applicants were carefully interviewed before being chosen for the trip. • Must find people willing to take the risk to go!! • Sir Robert Montgomery called it, “The most delightful Country of the Universe.” • Debtors and former prisoners didn’t get to go, meaning the true reason for forming Ga. had been forgotten. • The chosen few that were debtors & former prisoners were promised 50 acres, tools, and food for a year. Those that could pay their way got 500 acres of land and permission to take 10 indentured servants. • No prisoners/debtors were ever chosen.

Colonists in Georgia • People selected for the trip to Georgia were given several promises by England. 1. 50 acres of land 2. tools to work the land 3. food to get them through the first year

Requirements for Georgia Colonists • Defend the colony • They could not sell their land given to them. • They could not borrow money against the land. • They had to use certain portion of the land to grow mulberry trees. (silk) • Agree to obey all regulations put in place by the trustees.

Arrival in Georgia • November 17, 1732 btw 114-125 people left London on the Ship Ann. • Very crowded w/ all the people and belongings. • Only 2 deaths on the voyage 2 babies. • Finally, got to Port Royal S.C. on January 14, 1733. • Oglethorpe begins searching for a place to settle. • He chooses a place 17 miles south of the Savannah River called Yamacraw Bluff.

Not Ready to Settle Down • Before Ann (the ship) could set anchor, JEO had to make friends w/ the Yamacraw Indians and their chief, Tomochichi. • JEO needed an interpreter and went to a trading post in the Yamacraw village that was operated by John Musgrove and his wife Mary. • Mary was part Native American/British and with her help, JEO and Tomochichi had a close friendship until the chief died in 1739. • The passengers waited until JEO could find a good place to settle.

Tomochichi and Mary Musgrove • Oglethorpe befriended Tomochichi, chief of the Yamacraw Indians. • The Yamacraw Indians were struggling to survive and had became dependent on European goods. Tomochichi believed that befriending Oglethorpe would benefit his people and form a new trading partnership. • Tomochichi led the settlers to Yamacraw Bluff overlooking the Savannah River. This became the first settlement of the new Georgia colony. • Mary Musgrove and her husband John had created a trading post near the Yamacraw Bluff where they would trade British goods to the Native Americans. • Tomochichi spoke very little English so Mary Musgrove served as the interpreter between Oglethorpe and Tomochichi.

Chief Tomochichi • Tomochichi was head of the local Creek Indian tribe. • Oglethorpe needed to make piece with the Indians to obtain the land for the new settlement. • Mary Musgrove and her husband acted as interpreters for the two leaders. • He and Oglethorpe became good friends and worked together many years.

Now We are Ready!!!! • On Feb. 12, 1733, Chief Tomochichi allowed the passengers to settle on a sandy bluff overlooking the Savannah River that was about 18 miles from the mouth. • The settlement they established was the 13th English Colony.

Savannah • Oglethorpe was given land by Tomochichi at Yamacraw Bluff to build the settlement. • Oglethorpe named the town Savannah. • The town was divided into square lots and each male was given 5 acres as a garden plot and on the edge of town 45 acres. • Two forts were also constructed to protect from Spanish and hostile Indians. • * read Oglethorpe’s journal on page 119

Trustee Period The Salzburgers, Highland Scots, malcontents, Spanish threats!

Conditions in the Colony • Georgia’s climate was extremely hot and humid for the new colonists. • Many became sick from a poor diet and poor sanitation. • Forty original settlers died in the first year. In 1733, 42 Jews were allowed to settle in Georgia, including a much-needed doctor. • Lucky for them Dr. Samuel Nunis arrived along with other Jewish settlers.

The Salzburgers Arrive in GA • The Salzburgers – In 1734, a group of German protestants from Salzburg arrived, and settled a town called Ebenezer, about 25 miles from Savannah. Three years later they moved to Red Bluff and settled New Ebenezer. • Oglethorpe and Chief Tomochichi returned from a trip to England in 1736 with 300 more settlers, including German protestants from Salzburg and Saxony. Religious leaders John and Charles Wesley also arrived in Georgia.

The Salzburgers • The Salzburgers were German Lutherans trying to escape Catholic persecution in their homeland. • Oglethorpe gave them land 25 miles from Savannah • They called their settlement Ebenezer. • The location was close to a swamp and not good for farming.

New Ebenezer • The colonists survived the hardship and moved their town to a new site and called it New Ebenezer. • Because they spoke German, the colonists stayed separated from others. • The Salzburgers were hard workers and became some of the most successful and productive citizens of the Georgia colony. Salzburgers 1934

Highland Scots • These new colonists were from Scotland. • They came to Georgia and settled in Darien, Georgia. • The Scots became close to the Native Americans because like the Indians, they belonged to clans. • The Scots were skilled, fierce warriors, who wanted to protect the colony from the French to the west and the Spanish to the South.

Oglethorpe Goes to England • Oglethorpe wanted to improve on the Georgia colony. • He took Tomochichi on his voyage and introduced him to King George. • The Trustees and the King were happy with the progress and Indian relations. As a result, more financial support was given.

Rules of 1735 • Slavery and rum had drifted into Georgia from other colonies. • Oglethorpe secured the official Rules of 1735 to stop the spread of both. • He blamed rum for much of the sickness that had occurred and knew that slavery would result in idleness by the colonists, creating large slave plantations.

The Malcontents • Many of the settlers did not like the new Rules of 1735. • The most dividing issue was slavery. • Many colonies, including S. Carolina, used African and some Indian slaves. • The colonists who did not like the rules for Georgia were known as the Malcontents.

The Malcontents • South Carolina Model- Georgia’s neighbor allowed slavery. They were able to grow large amounts of rice, cotton, and tobacco. • As a result South Carolina’s economy was more successful than Georgia’s. • Why did Oglethorpe and the trustees not want slavery? (No big plantations) Farmers would demand more land which would spread them out making Georgia harder to defend. Slaves may try and fight for the Spanish to gain freedom.

The Malcontents • Salzburgers and Highland Scots supported Oglethorpe. • The Malcontents met and signed a petition to be able to own more than 50 acres as well as sell their land and own slaves. • The Malcontents eventually moved to S. Carolina or other parts of Georgia that could not be monitored by Oglethorpe.

Spanish Threat • Read pages 124-127 • Answer these questions • 1. Why was this conflict called The Battle of Jenkins Ear? • 2. Why were the Spanish angry? • 3. How did Oglethorpe respond to Spanish aggression? • 4. What battle helped secure the British frontier boundaries against the Spanish? • 5. Who helped Oglethorpe defeat the Spanish? • 6. What was Oglethorpe’s secret plan to get rid of the Spanish?

Spanish Threat from Florida • After the explorations of Hernando DeSoto and other Spanish conquistadors, Florida was colonized by Spain. • The Spanish were interested in the land north of their colony that later became Georgia. • The British built Fort Frederica in Georgia in an effort to protect the colony. • Georgian soldiers led an attack on St. Augustine, Florida in 1740. Two years later the Spanish attacked Fort Frederica. • The Battle of Bloody Marsh was the main battle between British Georgia and Spanish Florida. James Oglethorpe led the Georgia soldiers to victory (though he did not capture St. Augustine) and Spain never again attacked a British colony on the eastern coast.

Royal Period Land, Slavery, Governors, Legislature

Farwell to Oglethorpe • 1730s the trustees in England sent William Stephens to Georgia to act as the secretary to communicate better. • Oglethorpe was not happy. • Georgia was divided into 2 counties with Stephens in charge of the northern county and Savannah.

Farwell to Oglethorpe • 1743 Oglethorpe goes back to England never to return to Georgia. • William Stephens becomes president of the colony. • Colonists began to ignore the rules of the trustees. • They could now sell and buy rum, own more land, females could be heirs, sell and borrow against their land. • 1750 slavery was officially allowed. Rum

Slavery in Georgia • As a result of slavery, plantations would grow and become the foundation of Georgia’s economy. • Rice became the new cash crop for Georgia. (Crops raised in large amounts for lots of money)

End of the Trustee Period and a Change in Government • Georgia became a Royal Colony when the Trustee Period ended in 1752. • Definition: Royal Colony – Colony overseen by the crown of England. • The British Parliament had to pass a charter in order for Georgia to become an official Royal Colony. This process took two years. Georgia would not get its first official royal governor until 1754. • The government of Georgia would change drastically as the people, under the leadership of the Royal Governors, would have to learn to govern themselves.

Royal Colony Begins • 1752 Georgia officially becomes a royal colony. • Royal Colony- Georgia under the direct control of the king and not the trustees. • 1754 John Reynolds becomes the first governor of Georgia. • Reynolds establishes a representative government and has the most power in Georgia.

Royal Georgia • Governor- the governor could decide when the assembly would meet, land grants, negotiated with Indians, and was commander of the Georgia militia(military force). • Reynolds set up a new government for Georgia called a bicameral assembly. • Bicameral Assembly- house and a governors council. • Under the new royal Georgia, slavery, land ownership, and all of the rules under the trustee period were now allowed.

Week of _________Sept 1- Sept 5______________Georgia Studies Period __1-4___Teacher: Duran Monday StandardEssential QuestionLesson TextActivityNO SCHOOLNO SCHOOLNO SCHOOLNO SCHOOL Tuesday StandardEssential QuestionLesson TextActivitySSH2 The student will analyze the colonial period in Georgia's history.Who were the Malcontents?Ch 4: Section 41) Warm up 2) PPT 3) Primary Documents in Groups Wednesday StandardEssential QuestionLesson TextActivitySSH2 The student will analyze the colonial period in Georgia's history.Describe the Spanish threat in Georgia?Ch 4: Section 41) Warm up 2) Readuing Activity 3) Group Discussion 4) PPT 5) Primary Documents in Groups Thursday StandardEssential QuestionLesson TextActivitySSH2 The student will analyze the colonial period in Georgia's history.How did Georgia develop as a Royal Colony?Ch 4: Section 41) Warm up 2) PPT 3) Primary Documents in Groups Friday StandardEssential QuestionLesson TextActivitySSH2 The student will analyze the colonial period in Georgia's history.Analyze the impact of GA's first Governors?Ch 4: Section 41) Warm up 2) Socratic Seminar 3) Worksheets on GA's first Governors

Three Royal Governors:John Reynolds • John Reynolds – Georgia’s first royal governor. • Governed from 1754 to 1757. • Governor Reynolds introduced the idea of self-government to the colonists and assisted in the creation of a bicameral (two houses) legislature and the creation of a court system. • Eventually, due to a disagreement between Governor Reynolds and the legislature the legislature was sent home. Reynolds tried and failed to rule Georgia himself. • The British Parliament recalled Reynolds in 1757 and said that he was ineffective.

Three Royal Governors:Henry Ellis • Henry Ellis – Georgia’s second royal governor. • Governed from 1757-1760. • Governor Ellis tried to learn from the mistakes of John Reynolds. Ellis set up a budget and regulated trade with the Native Americans. • Henry Ellis also worked to increase the size and productivity of the colony of Georgia. By 1759, the population of the colony had increased to over 10,000, including 3,600 slaves. • In 1759, Henry Ellis became ill and returned to Great Britain. He was replaced as the governor of Georgia in 1760.

Three Royal Governors:James Wright • James Wright – Georgia’s third (and last) royal governor. • Governed from 1760-1776. • During Governor Wright’s term in office the size of Georgia increased. After the French and Indian War ended in 1763, Georgia gained a large amount of land. Governor Wright believed Georgia could be even more profitable for England by allowing farmers (and their slaves) to live and work on this land. • James Wright continued to serve as the Royal Governor of Georgia until the beginning of the American Revolution.

The First Governors of Georgia • 1st John Reynolds was not very popular with the colonists.(wasteful with money, appointed unqualified people ect.) • 2nd Henry Ellis listened to the Ga. Colonists, replaced unqualified people, tried to abolish slavery in Ga. but failed, and established good relationship with the Creek. • 3rd James Wright was highly educated. Wanted more land, wealth and people for Ga.

James Wright 1760 • Wright gained more land for Georgia stretching to the Miss. River, negotiated with Cherokee. (6 million acres) • Granted colonists right to own more land. • Under Wright’s leadership Georgia adopted the South Carolina Model. • Wright owned 20 plantations and 500 slaves. • Wright had the biggest impact on Georgia.

Land Ownership • Settlers who came to colony of Georgia during the Trustee Period were limited in the amount of land they could own. • People who came by way of the Trust’s charity were limited to 50 acres of land. People who paid their way could have up to 500 acres of land. • During the Trustee Period of Georgia’s history only men could own or inherit land. Many colonists were angry about this and wanted women to be able to own/inherit land. • As Georgia continued to develop as a Royal Colony citizens were given the opportunity to purchase more land (and use slaves to work the land) and women were allowed to inherit land.

Slavery • During the beginning of the Trustee Period, Georgia’s state law prohibited slavery (slavery was not allowed). • Wealthy colonists who could afford to buy enslaved people demanded to be allowed to bring them to Georgia. Many farmers believed that in order to compete with neighboring states (like South Carolina) they had to be allowed to own slaves. • Between 1750 and 1775, the number of Africans living in slavery increased from 500 to 18,000. These slaves had no rights, were not allowed to marry, were not allowed to live where they wanted, and were not allowed to learn to read or write. Slaves who broke these rules were punished, including beatings, whippings, separation from friends and family, and even death.

The Founding of Georgia