1. THE COLONIZATION OF GEORGIA
Georgia Studies Notes
THE COLONIZATION OF GEORGIA

2. James Edward Oglethorpe
Member of influential English family
Well-educated and wealthy
In 1722, became a member of Parliament

3. His Importance to Georgia
While Oglethorpe was serving in Parliament, Great Britain had problems with unemployment
People were having problems with debt
The punishment for not paying debt was prison
Oglethorpe had a friend who died of small pox in prison, and began to push for prison reform

4. Oglethorpe’s Dream
Oglethorpe and several colleagues came up with an idea to start a colony in the New World for “unfortunate but worthy individuals”
In 1730, they asked King George for a tract of land southwest of Carolina for settling the poor people of London

5. Economics, Defense & Charity
England had two main goals when new colonies were formed
Economics: balanced trade to make England self-sufficient
Defense: buffers to help protect English colonies from French, Spanish and Native Americans
Oglethorpe and friends added one more to the list
3. Charity: new start for the worthy poor

6. Charter of 1732
On June 7, 1732, King George II granted a charter making Georgia a Trustee Colony
Trustees: people who hold responsibility on behalf of others
This charter included all land and territories between the Altamaha and Savannah Rivers westward to the Pacific Ocean

8. Can you say Los Angeles, GA?

9. Limits of the Charter of 1732
Trustees could not own land, hold political office or be given money for their work
Catholics, blacks, liquor dealers and lawyers could not become colonists
Trustees were to receive instructions from the king and were only to manage the colony for a specific amount of time – 20 years

10. The First Georgians All applicants were carefully investigated
No debtors or former prisoners were chosen
Those who were selected received:
Fifty acres of land, tools and enough food for one year
Those who could pay their own way received:
500 acres of land and permission to take indentured servants

11. The Colonists’ Responsibilities
To defend the colony against all enemies
Land given to colonists could not be sold or borrowed against
Colonists had to cultivate (grow crops on) their land
A portion of colonists’ land was to be used to grow mulberry trees to cultivate silk
All regulations established by Trustees had to be obeyed

12. The Voyage of the Ship Ann
Between 114 and 125 people sailed from London on November 17, 1732 for Georgia
Their voyage took 88 days

13. Help for the Colonists The land that became Georgia was
already occupied by the Yamacraw
Indians when the new colonists arrived. Oglethorpe sought the help of traders John and Mary Musgrove in getting settled among the native people
Mary was part Native American/ part British and became an interpreter for the colonists as they negotiated with Tomochichi, the Yamacraw chief

14. Oglethorpe & Tomochichi
With Mary Musgrove’s help,
Tomochichi and Oglethorpe
became close friends
Tomochichi allowed the colonists to settle on Yamacraw Bluff, at the mouth of the Savannah River
Georgia officially became the thirteenth English colony in the New World

15. Tomochichi meets Oglethorpe

16. The City of Savannah The plan was for Savannah to have four squares
On the North & South side of each square were 20 lots 60 by 90 feet
On the West & East side larger lots were set aside for churches & stores
Center of each square was set aside for social, political and religious gatherings
Squares were divided into blocks (wards) and each block had 10 houses

17. Plans for City of Savannah

18. Colonists’ Responsibilities
Build sundial for telling time
Build gristmill, courthouse, water well and bakery