1. The Founding of Georgia
Early 1700’s in England
Debtors were sent to prison
James Oglethorpe worked for prison reform
Many debtors were released but still had no jobs
Why not start a new colony to give the unfortunates a chance at a new life?

2. Georgia Is Created June 20, 1732 Georgia received its official charter
Charity: to help relieve poverty and unemployment in Britain
Economics: to increase Britain’s trade & wealth
Defense: to provide South Carolina with a buffer against Indian attacks
(religion was also a reason, Protestants were being persecuted )

3. Florida vs. South Carolina
Florida was held by Spanish Catholics
South Carolina slaves could flee to Florida and receive their freedom if they became Catholic
Spain was not happy about England settling Georgia

4. Georgia’s Boundaries Savannah River was Georgia’s northern boundary
Altamaha River would be its southern border
West border to the Pacific Ocean
This area was what was originally designated for Georgia.

5. Video on the founding of Georgia colony. Take notes on the major facts presented in the video.
What was the purpose of Fort Frederica?
Why were troops withdrawn from the fort?
What type of charter was given to establish the Georgia colony?
To whom was it given?
What was the purpose of the Georgia colony?
Founding date of GA?
What was NOT allowed in the Georgia colony?
War with Spain: (Why? Where?)
Battle of Bloody Marsh: (fact)
Was the colony of Georgia successful during the first 10 years?

6. Trustee Colony First 20 years Georgia was a trustee colony
Trustees received no pay, could own no land, could not profit from the colony or hold office
Motto, “Not for ourselves but others.”

7. First 35 Families
Farmers, carpenters, tailors, bakers, merchants, and those with other skills and trades
Families received: weapons, tools for building and farming, seed, and food to support them until harvest
Families had to clear lands, raise crops, build houses & follow trustee rules

8. Yamacraw Bluff
Oglethorpe found a site to settle at the Creek Indian’s Yamacraw Bluff
Chief Tomochichi gave Oglethorpe permission to settle there
On February 12, 1733 the colonists arrived at Yamacraw Bluff which they named Savannah

9. Settlement of Savannah
Cut down trees to clear land for houses
Laid town out in squares
In April the only doctor died, colonists came down with dysentery and other diseases
Within 10 months 1 in 4 colonists died
Problem was solved once a well was dug

10. Tomochichi Tomochichi was around 83 years old
when he first met Oglethorpe
Became friends with Oglethorpe
Went to England
Helped set up a meeting between Oglethorpe and major Native American chiefs
At 89 Tomochichi was given a military funeral

11. Life as a Colonist Summer was hot and had heavy rains
Trustee regulations:
Land ownership & inheritance
Ban on slavery
No rum or hard liquors
Each male on charity received 50 acres
Colonists not on charity received 50 acres and 50 more acres for each servant they brought

12. Building Forts
Due to tension between Georgia and the Spanish & French in Florida, Georgia needed forts for protection
Trustees sent 150 Scottish Highlanders to Georgia’s southern boundary
1st fort at Darien, north of the mouth of the Altamaha River

13. Frederica Oglethorpe had orders to build a 2nd fort
South of the Altamaha River’s mouth
Spain was upset about the forts

14. War With Spain King George II made Oglethorpe a colonel in 1737
Oglethorpe could raise an army of 600 for Georgia
Most went to Fort Frederica
1739 Britain declared war on Spain

15. Spring 1740 Oglethorpe leads invasion south into Florida
Came upon two Spanish forts
England captured the first one (Fort Diego)
Fort Mose’s defenders fled to St. Augustine
Oglethorpe marched on St. Augustine to begin a siege
Part of his force stayed behind at Fort Mose
Spanish sneak 300 out of St. Augustine and return to
attack Fort Mose (68 of Oglethorpe’s men were killed and 34 taken prisoner)
Oglethorpe and his force return to Fort Frederica

16. July 7, 1742 Spanish forces get within a mile of Fort Frederica
Oglethorpe’s rangers fired upon the Spanish from the woods
Oglethorpe laid an ambush for the Spanish and fired upon the Spanish again
The Spanish turned back when they attempted to take Fort Frederica by sea

17. Oglethorpe Returns to England
In recognition of the victory Oglethorpe was promoted to general
1743 General Oglethorpe returned to England
Parliament repaid him the personal funds he had used on the colony
Oglethorpe met and married Elizabeth Wright

18. The Colony Declines
After Oglethorpe left many colonists gave up and returned to England
Colony not producing much – exports were slow
Crop failures and discontent among colonists

19. Trustees Relax Restrictions
Trustees began to relax their restrictions on land ownership and inheritance
In 1750 they dropped the prohibition on slavery
Colonists could elect delegates to advise them on colonial affairs
1751 Georgia’s first representative assembly met in Savannah

20. Georgia Becomes a Royal Colony
In 1752 Georgia became a royal colony
In 1754 Captain John Reynolds sailed from England to become Georgia’s first governor
Georgia would have its own legislature
Appointed upper house to advise Governor
Elected lower house to give colonists a voice
Only white males w/500 acres could be elected

21. Reynolds Doesn’t Last Long (1754-1757)
Reynolds wasn’t popular or effective and was replaced after two years

22. Religion and Boundaries
In 1758 royal assembly declares Anglican Church official church of Georgia
Georgia divided into 8 religious districts known as parishes
Parishes served to help the poor and served political functions

23. Henry Ellis ( )
Committed to strengthening Georgia’s defenses, increasing population, and improving its economy
Not happy with summer weather in Georgia
Granted permission to return to England

24. James Wright ( , )
Genuinely concerned about the colonists
Served over twenty years

25. French & Indian War Named due to fact many Indians fought with France
Began in 1754
Started in America and spread to Europe
Spain joined France late in the conflict

26. 1763 Treaty of Paris
Britain demanded Spain and France give up large amounts of land in America
France gave up claims in Canada
Spain gave up claims in Florida
Britain gave up all claims west of the Mississippi

27. Proclamation of 1763 What to do with all that land?
Indian uprisings
Expensive war
In the Proclamation of 1763
Quebec
Grenada
East Florida
West Florida

28. Georgia’s New Boundary
Treaty of Paris moved the western boundary to the Mississippi River
Proclamation of 1763 moved the southern boundary to the St. Marys River
1764 boundaries changed to include more of Florida

29. Colony Prospers
After the end of the French and Indian Wars the Creeks ceded (gave up) more than 2 million acres of land to Georgia
Headright system
Head of each family given 100 acres, plus an additional 50 acres for each additional family member, indentured servant or slave