Founding of Georgia SS8H2 The student will analyze the colonial period of Georgia’s history. A) Important people and reasons for settlement B) The Trustee period C) Development of Georgia as a Royal Colony

In the 1600s, the English began permanent settlements along the coast of the New World. Their first permanent settlement was Jamestown, Virginia in 1607.

By the close of the 1600s, England had established 12 colonies long the Atlantic coastline.

Although Spain moved out of Guale by 1686, more than one country claimed the land. France was establishing colonies along the Gulf Coast and in northern Alabama.

Both the French and the Spanish posed a threat to the British colonies Both the French and the Spanish posed a threat to the British colonies. Settlers in South Carolina asked that a fort be built at the mouth of the Altamaha River to serve as a “warning point” for invaders.

In 1721, Fort King George was completed In 1721, Fort King George was completed. The fort established the English presence in Georgia.

Georgia’s first civilian settlement, Savannah. How did it start? James Oglethorpe and a group of trustees were given a charter by King George II for this new colony in 1732 1. To provide safety for the port of Charleston from the Spanish in Florida and French Louisiana (defense) 2. Provide economic gain for England by producing raw materials (mercantilism) 3. Become a colony for the worthy poor (charity)

Follow the link below to investigate Georgia’s charter Establishing the Georgia Colony - For Teachers (Library of Congress)

Oglethorpe’s translators had a trading post on the Savannah River Oglethorpe’s translators had a trading post on the Savannah River. See the link below for more information on John and Mary Musgrove, Oglethorpe’s translators https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6utWkHZvtIk

Charter rules for the new colony No trading with Natives No Hard Liquor (rum) No Slavery No Lawyers No Catholics(Papists)

Must work your land, (home in Savannah, 5 acre garden plot on the edge of town and 45 acre farm in the country Must plant mulberry trees Must defend colony against all enemies Must obey all regulations Could not sell your land, or borrow against it Could only pass their land to male heirs

In exchange for this, the trustees promised to… Give each household 50 acres, more if they paid their own passage (up too 500 acres) Give each settler tools to work the land Give each settler food for one year They (trustees) would not own land in the new colony They (trustees) would not hold political office in the new colony They would not personally profit from the new colony

Silk worm and Mulberry trees

Who? Chief Tomochichi and his nephew, Toonahawi Why? He gave Oglethorpe Yamacraw Bluff to start the settlement, Savannah

Early settlers Salzburgers- Ebenezer and New Ebenezer escaped religious persecution in Germany Highland Scots-Darien helped defend the colony, great soldiers In 1733, Dr. Samuel Nunis and 41 other Jews arrived in Savannah and helped the first settlers survive a medical crisis https://youtu.be/6utWkHZvtIk

Would this be easy to clear and farm?

Must be able to defend the colony

Highland Scots of Darien

Battle of Bloody Marsh 1739 War of Jenkin’s Ear- between Spain and Great Britain Tried to take St. Augustine in 1740 Spanish troops came to St. Simons Island and were surprised and forced back across the Florida border by Oglethorpe and the Highland Scots Spanish finally left for good Play video: History Uncovered, Ft. Frederica

Malcontents Those settlers unhappy (discontent) with the trustee’s restrictions called themselves Malcontents Unhappy about not being able to grow hemp, flax, indigo or grapes Unhappy with the economic hardships Unhappy with inheritance restrictions Wanted to sell land or own more than restrictions allowed Some wanted slavery and hard liquor (rum)

End of Trustee Period Beginning of Royal Colonial Period President of the colony, James Oglethorpe, leaves colony in 1743 Charter period begins to run out (20 yrs) 1752 Trustees return Georgia’s authority back to the crown

King George the II appoints several royal governors. John Reynolds Created bicameral legislature, a court system and helped the colony prosper Captain Henry Ellis consulted neighboring governor of SC for advice and depended on wealthy citizens to lead colony James Wright-Last Royal Governor colony prospers with new settlers from SC and the West Indies; he believed in large farms; rice and indigo become cash crops; forts were made stronger; agrees with the self-government program which Gov. Reynolds started

Indigo Observe- look carefully and describe what you see Reflect- analyze what you see and reflect what it could mean Question- decide if there is anything else you should investigate

Georgia Colony begins to prosper By 1760’s Georgia grows from 1 million acres of land owned to 7 million Crops include rice and indigo as well as timber and naval stores Many ports grow with ships arriving from other colonies and countries Merchants bring various items to sell which could not be grown or manufactured in GA

Review Georgia’s colonial period begins in 1732 with the charter and is governed by the trustees James Oglethorpe, trustee, founder and first president of the colony The last and 13th colony has a diverse group of settlers Prosperity reaches Georgia, it has weathered many hardships but with its farms and shipping ports grows steadily