Georgia s founders want a new colony different from other English settlements, but their vision proves to be short-lived.

SLIDE 1 Chapter 5: Trustee Georgia 1730 1761 Georgia s founders want a new colony different from other English settlements, but their vision proves to be short-lived. SLIDE 2 Section 1: Creating a Buffer Colony Section 2: Life in the New Colony Section 3: The End of Trustee Georgia SLIDE 3 Section 1: Creating a Buffer Colony Georgia is created for different reasons than other English colonies. Unique rules make Georgia different from the start. SLIDE 4 Section 1: Creating a Buffer Colony Reasons for the Colony Threats from Spanish Spanish encourage Native Americans to attack Charles Town Fort King George built to protect Carolina border; abandoned 1728 Hard Times in England James Edward Oglethorpe born 1696; member, British Parliament, 1722 England overcrowded, people unable to pay debts imprisoned Oglethorpe favors prison reform, wants debtors colony - fresh start for debtors; ease overcrowding, unemployment - colony could sell materials to England, protect Charles Town SLIDE 5 Reasons for the Colony The Creation of Georgia Oglethorpe, 20 other prominent men trustees draft charter in 1730 Propose colony name Georgia after King George II; three purposes: - charitable: relief for debtors, worthy poor 1

- economic: self-supporting, providing cheap resources for England - defensive: protective barrier between Florida, Charles Town SLIDE 6 Continued Reasons for the Colony The Creation of Georgia King signs charter, grants lands southwest of Carolina, June 9, 1732 Colonists offered free passage, 50 acres, 1 year support for family 500 acres tax-free for 10 years for those who can pay passage Many worthy poor artisans, businessmen apply instead of debtors Resident Trustee Oglethorpe pays own way, leads colony Ship Ann sets sail November 17, 1732, with 115 passengers SLIDE 7 New Rules for a New Colony Different From Other Colonies Trustees cannot own land in Georgia, do not make profit All colonists get same amount of land so social classes do not form Hard liquor, slavery not allowed; only men may inherit land SLIDE 8 Sailing to Georgia Rough Conditions Two months to cross Atlantic; travel conditions poor Oglethorpe meets with Royal Governor of South Carolina - wants protection from Spanish and Yamasee SLIDE 9 Establishing the Colony Yamacraw Bluff Yamacraw Bluff spot near Savannah River chosen for colony - becomes town of Savannah John and Mary Musgrove John and Mary Musgrove own trading post near Yamacraw John: son of Colonel John Musgrove of South Carolina Mary: born Cousaponakeesa to white trader and Creek Indian 2

Musgroves have trade monopoly with Yamacraw, Charles Town colonists SLIDE 10 Establishing the Colony Chief Tomochichi Tomochichi is chief of Yamacraw; part of Creek Confederacy Musgroves help Oglethorpe negotiate treaty with Tomochichi Georgia guard prepares area, colonists arrive February 1, 1733 SLIDE 11 Continued Establishing the Colony Negotiating with the Creek Oglethorpe meets with Creek chiefs to establish peace After three days, Treaty of Savannah signed: - colonists receive land, prices set for trade - Creek will return escaped slaves to South Carolina - promise that colonists will not take other Creek lands SLIDE 12 Continued Establishing the Colony Continued Help from the Musgroves and Tomochichi Musgroves translate, negotiate between colonists and natives Allow Oglethorpe to use employees as assistants Oglethorpe takes Musgroves, Tomochichi to England in 1734 Tomochichi impressed by King, trustees; Creek, English ally Oglethorpe and Creek chiefs sign Treaty of Coweta in 1739 - chiefs vow loyalty to George II, reconfirm 1733 land grant SLIDE 13 Section 2: Life in the New Colony The noble ideals Georgia was founded on quickly give way to the difficult realities of life in a new land. SLIDE 14 Section 2: Life in the New Colony Establishing Savannah 3

Early Tasks Colonists work in common as a group, one project at a time - build palisade strong wooden wall of defense around compound Crane at top of bluff lifts supplies from ships SLIDE 15 Establishing Savannah Planning for a City Savannah layout based on Azilia design Four wards districts with open public square in each - public buildings in each corner, house lots surround square Fort Argyle along Ogeechee River first of 7 forts to protect Savannah Scots Highlanders build fort near Altamaha River, February 1736 - name area Darien, name town New Inverness SLIDE 16 Continued Establishing Savannah More Residents for the Colony Settlers continue to arrive, including three religious groups: - Moravians Protestants from Czechoslovakia - Salzburgers Austrian, near German border - Jews from Portugal initially, trustees prohibited Jewish settlers All groups had been persecuted in original countries SLIDE 17 Continued Establishing Savannah Religion in the Colony Trustees afraid Catholic settlers may ally with Spanish in Florida Oglethorpe brings ministers, two brothers, in 1736 - John Wesley founds Methodist movement - Charles Wesley Oglethorpe s secretary, chaplain at Fort Frederica George Whitefield comes on later trip; founds Bethesda Home for Boys SLIDE 18 Another Town for Georgia Augusta Founded Communications between Savannah, Charles Town begins October 1734 4

Secure settlement between towns needed as trade grows Oglethorpe completes way station north of Savannah, June 1736 - names site Augusta in honor of Princess Augusta of Wales SLIDE 19 Life in the New Colony Responsibilities of the Trustees Oglethorpe acts as colony s protector but lacks official title Colonists receive military training to defend colony Trustees provide food, clothes, tools to colonists for one year Each colonist gets 50 acres, small town lot, seed for farming Trustees plan to grow silk for England, but plan fails SLIDE 20 Discontent Among the Colonists Land Trustees won t trade poor land for better land Difficult to grow crops requested by England Colonists cannot sell, trade land; women can t inherit Slaves Farmers able to grow rice, indigo, but crops are labor-intensive Envy profitability of South Carolina crops using slave labor Rum Banned, available in other colonies; item of trade with Native Americans SLIDE 21 Continued Discontent Among the Colonists Hardships Take a Toll Colonists unprepared for life in new colony Trustees bring experts from Italy, Portugal to teach crop production - raw silk; indigo for dyes - grapes for wine Soil, climate wrong for intended crops Trustees mock complainers; some colonists leave for South Carolina SLIDE 22 5

Section 3: The End of Trustee Georgia Defending the new colony and making a profit for England prove to be too great a task for Oglethorpe. In 1752, Britain takes back Georgia and makes it a royal colony. SLIDE 23 Section 3: The End of Trustee Georgia Defending the New Colony Resolving Disputes Trustees and colonists both unhappy William Stephens arrives in 1736 to assist Oglethorpe Colony divided into two counties, Savannah and Frederica (1741) - Stephens in charge of Savannah, Oglethorpe in charge of Frederica Border disputes between British Georgia and Spanish Florida continue Rivalry between England, Spain; Britain declares war on Spain,1739 SLIDE 24 Continued Defending the New Colony European Conflicts Carried to the Colonies Oglethorpe invades Florida in 1740, aided by Native American allies Spanish reinforcements arrive, Georgians retreat to Fort St. Simons Minor fighting for two years, Spanish blocks Fort St.Simons in 1742 Oglethorpe evacuates, Spanish take fort SLIDE 25 British Establish Control Spain Is Turned Back Oglethorpe greatly outnumbered 650 to 2,000 but must defeat Spanish Two small units ambush Spanish on march to Fort Frederica Ambush the Battle of Bloody Marsh takes less than hour Spanish retreat to St. Augustine three days later England s claim on Georgia land is now undisputed SLIDE 26 Continued British Establish Control 6

Changes in Leadership Despite victory, trustees and settlers unhappy with Oglethorpe Oglethorpe returns to England in 1743, William Stephens new leader Two counties reunite into one Savannah; grows after Spanish defeat Legislative assembly created, but has no lawmaking power - first assembly January 14, 1751, elects Francis Harris speaker - elects Henry Parker to succeed Stephens as colony president SLIDE 27 Changing the Rules Land 50-acre rule frustrates colonists, they want larger farms Land limit increased to 2,000 acres, women may now inherit property Rum Rum drinking, sale allowed in 1742; valuable for trading with natives Slavery Some colonists asking for slavery since colony s start Slavery legalized in 1751; Scots Highlanders and Salzburgers oppose SLIDE 28 Becoming a Royal Colony New Royal Government Trustees return colony to king in 1752 a year before charter expires George II names John Reynolds first royal governor (1754) Royal government: governor, 12-man council, legislature - council advises governor: forms Assembly s Upper House, Court of Error - 19 colonists elected to Commons House of Assembly, later 25 SLIDE 29 Continued Becoming a Royal Colony The Assembly Takes Action First assembly meets on January 7, 1755 Reorganizes militia, funds roads, bridges; creates paper bills of credit Establishes list of 10 crimes punishable by death Approves first slave code basis for all future Georgia slavery laws SLIDE 30 7

Continued Becoming a Royal Colony A Change of Governors Reynolds disliked; tries to move capital, refuses advice from council Henry Ellis replaces him, 1758; inherits weak, infighting colony Restores colony in three years; is well-liked, respected - reforms government, divides Georgia into parishes, settles land claims - keeps Creek neutral during French and Indian War Resigns in early 1761, Lieutenant Governor James Wright replaces him SLIDE 31 A Voice in Government Colonists Have Voice in Government Commons House of Assembly gave colonists political voice Forming Parishes Georgia divided into 8 districts parishes similar to modern counties - primarily for organizaton; religious, military bodies - members pay tax for church, poor England has hands-off policy salutary neglect toward colonies Colonists handle their own problems, Parliament s laws rarely enforced 8