GEORGIA – BRITAIN’S 13 TH COLONY

1. GEORGIA – BRITAIN’S 13TH COLONY

2. An New Colony • A new English colony south of the Savannah River would be a buffer to protect the Carolinas from the French, Spanish, and Indians. • Several attempts were made to begin this new colony to be called Georgia after King George II. • Fort King George was the first location but was unsuccessful due to illness. • Finally, in 1732, James Oglethorpe convinced King George II to let him try to establish a new colony called Georgia.

3. The Founding of Georgia • James Oglethorpe was the founder of the Georgia colony. • King George II gave Oglethorpe the charter for the colony in 1732. • There were 3 purposes: • Charity for the “worthy poor” • Economics – for the mercantile system • Defense for South Carolina

4. Terms to Know and Discuss • charter – a legal document giving grants of land • Trustees – the 21 men given the responsibility to organize and manage the Georgia colony • Parliament – legislative branch of the British government • How did the Trustees motto describe them?

5. Boundaries • The charter of 1732 stated that Georgia’s boundaries would be: • Savannah River the northern boundary • Altamaha River the southern boundary • Pacific Ocean the western boundary!!!

6. Setting up the Colony • Georgia would be governed by 21 trustees for 21 years. • They could not receive a salary as trustee, own land in Georgia, or hold public office in Georgia. • Their motto was “Not for ourselves but for others.” • Oglethorpe was one of the trustees.

7. The “Worthy Poor” • Charity was offered to people who the trustees felt deserved it. • The “worthy poor” were people who were hardworking, had a skill, and were down on their luck. • No lazy beggars looking for a handout were allowed in Georgia! • The people who came on charity got free land, weapons, tools, seed, and food.

8. The Trustees Rules • Anyone coming to Georgia had to follow certain rules • Limits on land ownership and inheritance – if anyone left Georgia they had to return the land and only men could inherit. • No slaves • No rum • No Catholics

9. Settlers Arrive • The ship Anne brought 114 settlers from England to Georgia. • After stopping 1st in South Carolina, Oglethorpe went to Georgia to find the best place to settle. • He met John and Mary Musgrove, traders from South Carolina, who introduced Oglethorpe to Yamacraw Chief Tomochichi. • Tomochichi gave Oglethorpe the land on Yamacraw Bluff on the Savannah River to build his settlement.

10. Oglethorpe meets Tomochichi

11. Savannah • On February 12, 1733, settlers came ashore at Yamacraw Bluff and began building the settlement of Savannah named after the river. • There were hardships. The greatest problem came from drinking river water and within 10 months 1 of four settlers died. • When a new well was dug, the problem was solved and Savannah grew.

12. Savannah Settlement

13. Other Groups Arrive in Georgia • The Scotch Highlanders • The Salzburgers

14. The Scotch Highlanders • The Scotch Highlanders came to Georgia from Scotland. • The men were soldiers who came for the purpose of helping defend Georgia. • Many brought their wives and children.

15. The Salzburgers • The Salzburgers were German speaking people from Salzburg, Austria. • They were Protestants who came to Georgia to escape religious persecution in Europe. • Oglethorpe gave them land north of Savannah which they called Ebenezer. • The land was swampy and they moved to a better location which they called New Ebenezer.

16. Protests Against the Trustees Rules • The Colonists protested against 3 of the Trustees rules: • Land Inheritance • No Slavery • No rum and other types of hard liquor

17. Protests Against Land Rules • If colonists left Georgia, their land was given back to the Trustees to be given to another family. • If a man died without a son, the land was also given back to the Trustees for redistribution. • The colonists protested to the Trustees and eventually these land rules were changed.

18. Protests Against No Slavery • Some colonists complained that since other colonies had slaves, Georgia should also. • A group of Savannah colonists called The Malcontents sent a petition to the Trustees to allow slavery in Georgia. • The Scotch Highlanders & Salzburgers spoke out against slavery. • In 1750 the Trustees allowed slavery in Georgia.

19. Fort Frederica • To protect Georgia & South Carolina from Spanish attack, Oglethorpe built Fort Frederica on St. Simons Island. • It became the largest British fort in America. • From this fort, the British defeated the Spanish at the Battle of Bloody Marsh. • The Spanish never attacked Georgia after this.

20. Fort Frederica

21. A Royal Colony • Oglethorpe left Georgia in 1743. • People began leaving because they did not like the trustees rules. • The trustees tried to keep the Georgia economy going by changing rules on slavery & land ownership. • They were unsuccessful & Georgia became a Royal Colony in 1752 under direct control of the king.

22. Royal Governors • Georgia had three Royal Governors, Captain John Reynolds, Henry Ellis, James Wright. • Under the first Royal Governor, Captain John Reynolds, government changed: • Georgia had its own legislature called the Commons House of assembly. • White males owning 50 acres could vote to elect men to serve in this legislature. This gave Georgians a voice in self-government. • White males owning 500 acres could serve in the colonial legislature • Parishes were established to collect taxes.

23. French & Indian War • In 1754, Great Britain went to war against the French and their Indian allies over control of America. • The British won. The French lost Canada and land east of the Mississippi River. The Spanish who had helped the French, lost Florida. • Georgia’s boundaries changed: the western boundary was the Mississippi River.

24. The Colonies in 1763

25. Georgia Prospers • In 1763, King George III of England passed the Proclamation of 1763 which stated that all land west of the Appalachian Mountains was reserved for the Indians. • Since people could not move west, they came south to Georgia! • Georgia gave away land by the headright system: the head of a family received 100 acres and an additional 50 acres for each family member, indentured servant, or slave.

26. Lifestyles of Colonial Georgians • Colonial Social ladder: • Education: There was no school system. The wealthy had tutors. Most children who learned to read and write were taught by their parents. Many never learned. • Religion: Most Georgians were Anglicans. • John and Charles Wesley came to Georgia as preachers, and John started the Methodist Church. • George Whitefield was an Anglican minister who started the Bethesda Orphan House • Dr. Samuel Nunes was a Jewish immigrant who helped the colonists.

27. Indian Trade Rules • Anyone trading with the Indians had to: • Pay a fee to get a license • Set official exchange rates for animal skins • Agree to follow all trade rules

28. Indian Relations • It was important to keep good relations with the Indians because they were important allies if the Spanish attacked. • The traders often cheated the Indians. • Oglethorpe built Ft. Augusta in the backcountry to control Indian trade. • He made rules regulating Indian trade.