Georgia's Colonial History: Oglethorpe's Dream to Royal Colony

1. Essential Questions What was James Oglethorpe’s dream and what steps did he initiate to make his dream become reality? What is a charter and evaluate the effectiveness of the original Charter of 1732. What were the three reasons for building a settlement in Georgia. Explain the relationship between Oglethorpe, Tomochichi, and Mary Musgrove and how this relationship impacted the growth and development of Savannah? Evaluate the Trustee Period of Georgia’s colonial history, emphasizing the role of the Salzburgers, Highland Scots, malcontents, and the Spanish threat from Florida. Describe the development of Georgia as a royal colony with regard to land ownership, slavery, government, and the impact of the royal governors. Georgia’s Charter • SS8H2 The student will analyze the colonial period of Georgia’s history. • a.Explain the importance of James Oglethorpe, the Charter of 1732, reasons for settlement (charity, economics, and defense), Tomochichi, Mary Musgrove, and the city of Savannah. • b. Evaluate the Trustee Period of Georgia’s colonial history, emphasizing the role of the Salzburgers, Highland Scots, malcontents, and the Spanish threat from Florida. • c. Explain the development of Georgia as a royal colony with regard to land ownership, slavery, government, and the impact of the royal governors.

2. England Needs a Military Base • With the establishments of new colonies, England is scared that Spain will attack the New England and Middle colonies. • England decided they need to have a buffer between its colonies and Spanish troops who are in south Florida. • They need a place to build a military base but there was no colony in Georgia. England was faced with a hard decision, who will colonize Georgia? After taking Spanish land, England is afraid Spain will try to take it back.

3. Early Claims to Georgia Scotland - wanted to settle Georgia but did not have enough money to support the settlement.

4. Early Claims to Georgia English Settlers • English settlers had money to support the settlement. • English settlers get the option.

5. James Oglethorpe • Born into a wealthy family in London • Member of the British Parliament (similar to U.S. Congress) Coachbook Break pg. 23

6. Problems in England • England’s economy was in trouble. • They had many poor people. Many were sent to jail for stealing food. • There were not enough jobs so people could not work. • People who couldn’t pay their debts were sent to jail.

7. James Oglethorpe Timeline of Events Coachbook pg. 23

8. Why did Oglethorpe have compassion for debtors in England’s prison? • Oglethorpe cared about poor people and wanted to help them. • His best friend had gone to jail because he could not pay his debts. • He was angry about the conditions of English jails and he worked to reform prison conditions

9. Oglethorpe’s Dream • Oglethorpe’s Dream: Start a colony for debtors so that they could get out of jail and work to repay their debts. A promise of a fresh start. • Letting people out of jail did no good because there were not enough jobs. They would just go back for stealing food. King George II grants the charter for Georgia on June 7, 1732!!

10. Reasons King George II Granted Georgia’s Colonial Charter based on the following terms: • Charity – would give debtors a fresh start. This would enable them to pay off their debts and free space in prisons that were overcrowded.

11. Reasons King George II Granted Georgia’s Colonial Charter 2. Defense - would help defend the Carolinas from the Spanish in Florida - would help defend again the French who were moving east from the Mississippi region

12. Reasons King George II Granted Georgia’s Colonial Charter • Economics – the colony would be able to provide resources that England was currently importing from other countries More Land and Power more land = more power for England and raw products could be sold for profit.

13. Georgia’s Charter • King George II granted the royal charter on June 7, 1732 to Oglethorpe and the trustees. • Charter – legal documents granting rights and privileges • Trustees– people who hold responsibility on behalf of others. • Georgia will become a Proprietary colony and a board of trustees will serve as the leaders of Georgia. Colonist will have to follow the rules of the board.

14. Stipulations of Georgia’s Charter Trustees would take control of Georgia. These trustees would work for King George and send profits back to England. They would reside as governors of Georgia. Trustees could not: • own land • hold political office • could not make a profit for their work

15. Propaganda Attracts them from All over! • Settlers were given a land plot to open a business or build a house in the city of Savannah. • Given five acres at the edge of town to grow food for the trustees since they could not own land. • Given 45 acres outside the town to make money by growing crops and harvesting natural resources that could be sold for money.

16. Stipulations for Colonists Wanting to Settle Georgia. • Each man had to help defend the new colony against ALL enemies. • Land given to the colonists could not be sold for profit. Land could only be passed to male heirs. • Colonists would be given seeds and farming equipment and a portion of the proceeds would go to England. • A portion of their 45 acres must be used to grow mulberry trees for silk worms. • Colonists were to obey all rules and regulations of the trustees.

17. Stipulations of Georgia’s Charter The trustees decide to prohibited the following groups from colonizing Georgia. These people would not be allowed to enter Georgia or own or work the land for profit: • Catholics – in England, Catholics and members of the Church of England didn’t get along • Blacks – so that slavery would not be introduced • Liquor Dealers – so that alcohol wouldn’t interfere with work • Lawyers – so people would settle problems outside of work