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James Oglethorpe first meets the Yamacraw, 1736. Engraving, 19th
century.
Trustee Georgia1730–1761
Georgia’s founders want a new colony different from other English settlements, but their vision proves to be short-lived.
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Trustee Georgia1730–1761
SECTION 1
SECTION 2
SECTION 3
Creating a Buffer Colony
Life in the New Colony
The End of Trustee Georgia
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Section 1
Creating a Buffer Colony Georgia is created for different reasons than other English colonies. Unique rules make Georgia different from the start.
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Reasons for the Colony
Creating a Buffer Colony
Threats from Spanish• Spanish encourage Native Americans to attack
Charles Town• Fort King George built to protect Carolina border;
abandoned 1728
SECTION
1
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
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SECTION
1
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”- economic: self-supporting, providing cheap
resources for England- defensive: protective barrier between Florida,
Charles Town
Continued . . .
continued Reasons for the Colony
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SECTION
1
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
continued Reasons for the Colony
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SECTION
1
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
New Rules for a New Colony
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SECTION
1
Rough Conditions• Two months to cross Atlantic; travel conditions poor• Oglethorpe meets with Royal Governor of South
Carolina- wants protection from Spanish and Yamasee
Sailing to Georgia
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SECTION
1
Yamacraw Bluff • Yamacraw Bluff—spot near Savannah River
chosen for colony- becomes town of Savannah
Establishing the Colony
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• Musgroves have trade monopoly with Yamacraw, Charles
Town colonists
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SECTION
1
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
Establishing the Colony
Continued . . .
Image
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SECTION
1
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
continued Establishing the Colony
Continued . . .
Map
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SECTION
1
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
continued Establishing the Colony
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The noble ideals Georgia was founded on quickly give way to the difficult realities of life in a new land.
Section 2
Life in the New Colony
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Establishing Savannah
Life in the New Colony
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
SECTION
2
Continued . . .
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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
SECTION
2
Continued . . .
continued Establishing Savannah
Image
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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
SECTION
2
continued Establishing Savannah
Continued . . .
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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
SECTION
2
continued Establishing Savannah
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Another Town for Georgia
Augusta Founded• Communications between Savannah, Charles
Town begins October 1734• 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
SECTION
2
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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
SECTION
2
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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
SECTION
2
Continued . . .
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
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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
SECTION
2
continued Discontent Among the Colonists
Section 3
The End of TrusteeGeorgia 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.
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Defending the New Colony
The End of Trustee Georgia
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
SECTION
3
Continued . . .
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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
continued Defending the New Colony
SECTION
3
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British Establish Control
SECTION
3
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
Continued . . .
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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
continued British Establish Control
SECTION
3
NEXT
Changing the Rules
SECTION
3
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
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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
SECTION
3
Continued . . .
Becoming a Royal Colony
Chart
NEXT
SECTION
3
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
Continued . . .
continued Becoming a Royal Colony
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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
continued Becoming a Royal Colony
SECTION
3
NEXT
A Voice in Government
SECTION
3
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
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