Georgia Studies Notes

Georgia began as a Trustee Colony with its original charter in 1732.

The Trustee Period lasted from 1733 to 1752.

Plans forCity of

Savannah

James Oglethorpe

21 trustees

King (George II) is

ultimate authority

James Oglethorpe

King had ultimate authority

Trustees made regulations which had to be obeyed by colonists

King George II

All lands between

the Altamaha and

Savannah Rivers

west to the Pacific

Ocean

Boundaries in original charter

Original colonists were given 50 acres

of land

Colonists who could afford to pay their

way to Georgia were given 500 acres

Mulberry Tree

Slavery was not

allowed by the

Charter of 1732

Charter of 1732

The original settlers were all Protestants

Within a short period of time, Georgia also had Jewish settlers

Christ Church in Savannah

John Wesley

Aside from original settlers who came on The Anne, many new settlers arrived during the Trustee Period:

SalzburgersMoraviansHighland ScotsMalcontents

Originated in Salzburg, GermanyCame to Georgia because they were

expelled from Catholic Germany for being Protestant

Settled in EbenezerRelocated to New Ebenezer because of

issue with the original landOpposed to slavery

New Ebenezer

Came to Georgia from ScotlandSettled in Darien, GeorgiaRebuilt Fort King GeorgeOpposed to slavery

Fort King George

Mainly composed of Scottish settlers near Savannah

Arrived in Georgia by paying their own way, so they did not feel the same loyalty to James Oglethorpe

Objected to three trustee rules:Limits on land ownershipLaw against slaveryLaw against rum

Felt these laws limited their ability to earn moneyCover of official

protest

In 1739, war broke out between England and Spain

This gave Oglethorpe a good reason to invade Florida which was controlled by Spain

2000 men (mainly Native Americans and settlers from GA & SC) fought to take over Spanish forts in Florida

War of Jenkin’s Ear

Not much progress was made until July 1742 in the Battle of Bloody Marsh

In this battle, Highland Scots assisted Oglethorpe’s forces. This surprise attack caught the Spanish forces off guard and was the beginning of a safe southern frontier for the British.

Battle of Bloody Marsh

The Spanish eventually left the area for good

after a note was sent to a British deserter

warning of an impending attack by arriving

ships. The arriving ships were actually trading

ships, but the Spanish thought they would be

outnumbered and gave up.

Georgia’s Royal Colony Period lasted from 1752 - 1783

John Reynolds – (1754-1757) first Royal

Governor (ineffective)

Henry Ellis – (1757-1760) second Royal

Governor (established foundation for

government)

James Wright – (1760-1782) third Royal

Governor (efficient and popular)

King appointed Governor &

Council

There was a bi-cameral

legislature set up to represent

the original parishes in GA

Parish is a church and

government Parishes

After the French &

Indian War, (1763) the

southern boundary was

set to the St. Mary’s

River & the western

boundary was set at the

Mississippi River

Determined right to voteTo vote, settlers had to own 50

acres

Determined right to hold officeTo be in office, settlers had to own

500 acres

January 1, 1751 – Slavery was allowed because the colonists were frustrated by the success of their neighbors to the north who were becoming prosperous under slavery

Slave ship

Once slavery was allowed, Puritans from South Carolina arrived in Georgia in 1752 and settled in Midway, just southwest of Savannah.

Colonial officials granted the Puritans large land grants because the large population would serve as a defensive buffer against the Creek Indians.

New settlers arrived from South

Carolina and the West Indies

(who also brought slaves)

New settlers arrived after

boundaries were expanded after

the French & Indian War (1763)

Some were considered

undesirable (Crackers)

Georgia “crackers”