Colonizing Georgia: Trustee and Royal Period Unit 2

Trustee Period The Trustee Period of Georgia lasted from 1732-1752 (20 years) After Savannah was settled, more groups arrived.

Jewish Settlers July 1733 (5 months after Oglethorpe landed), a group of Jewish Portuguese settlers arrived. Originally, Jews were banned from the colony. However, many settlers were sick with yellow fever. 20 colonists (including the only doctor) died. Oglethorpe made an exception for two reasons: there was a doctor in the group, Dr. Samuel Nunes. There was an experienced viticulturist (wine making) 14 of the Jews received land near Savannah Established Congregation Mickve Israel, the oldest Jewish congregation in the South and the third oldest in the U.S.

Salzburgers Peaceful, hard-working German-speaking Protestant refugees from present-day Austria Arrived in 1734 and settled a town named “Ebenezer” meaning “Stone of Help” Swampy location, many Salzburgers died. The Salzburgers were given permission to relocate, the new location was called “New Ebenezer” The Salzburgers were the most successful and industrious colonists in GA. First Georgians to develop a water powered grist mill, a Sunday school, an orphanage, and successful silk production Strictly anti-slavery and loyal to the Trustees (not Malcontents)

“The Expulsion of the Salzburgers” The town of New Ebenezer was damaged during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. However, the church they built in 1763 still stands today. It’s home to the longest existing Lutheran Congregation in the United States. Many of the Salzburgers’ descendants still live in the area in which they settled over 250 years ago.

Highland Scots Arrived in 1736 from the Scottish Highlands. Also anti-slavery and hard workers Brought to GA by Oglethorpe based on reputation for being amazing soldiers and fighters. Given land near abandoned Fort King George, which they named Darien (Why do you think this fort was abandoned? Why were the Scots given this land?) Highland Scots fought in the Battle of Bloody Marsh and in two failed campaigns to capture St. Augustine, FL.

Settlement in Darien © 2014 Brain Wrinkles

Transition The Trustees had set up rules for the colony, including no slavery, no selling of land, and no liquor. They wanted to create a classless society where there were no rich or poor people and each man worked his own land. Colonists called “malcontents” were not happy and demanded the Trustees make some changes.

Malcontents The strict rules of the Charter of 1732 caused dissent among the colonists. Dissenters, known as Malcontents, argued because… They had paid their own way into the colony and were not obligated to follow Trustee rule Restrictions on land ownership and slavery limited economic opportunities They resented restrictions on alcohol Malcontents saw how successful South Carolina was due and believed GA would never prosper unless people were allowed to buy and sell land and slaves First complaints registered in 1738

End of Trustee Period The ban on rum (alcohol) was no longer enforced by 1742 Many Malcontent leaders moved from Georgia after petitions for slavery were declined Malcontents made their voices heard in GA and Great Britain through written pamphlets demanding change By 1950, the Trustees passed a law allowing slavery The Trustee period ended by 1751, one year before the Charter of 1732 ended Trustee rule.

What Happened to Oglethorpe? Oglethorpe’s role in the creation of Georgia is heightened due to the fact that he was the only trustee to travel to the new colony. Oglethorpe took on the roles of both military and de facto civilian leader of the colony, and in many cases acted against the policies of the trustees. During his time in Georgia, Oglethorpe befriended Tomochichi, Mary Musgrove, and American Indians, allowed groups of Jewish, Scottish, and German immigrants to settle in the colony, created the towns of Savannah and Fredericka (on St. Simons Island), and fought the Spanish on three separate occasions. Oglethorpe left Georgia in 1743, never to return. Nonetheless, Oglethorpe was alive to witness the colony he helped realize break away from England and become part of the United States of America.

Summary: Trustee Period Considered a unique, though mostly unsuccessful social and economic experiment. Philanthropy= unsuccessful- Malcontents demanded alcohol, slavery, land owndership Economics= WRIST products were not successful crops (especially silk and wine) Defense= Georgia did successfully defend South Carolina and itself from the Spanish

Royal Governor Period 1752-1776

Royal Governor Period The Royal Governor Period of Georgia lasted from 1752-1776 During this time, control of Georgia was given back to the King and the British government. The king appointed people called “royal governors” to administer the colony. Trustee laws were repealed

Land Ownership Land ownership rules were relaxed. More land could be purchased by white men as slavery created the need for more fertile land Women were allowed to own land GA’s population grew due to improved land policies, land gains from American Indians and the Spanish, and the surges of settlers and slaves Population growth expanded GA’s borders and improved the economy

Slavery Between 1750 and 1755, the number of slaves increased from 500 1800 Slaves had no rights, were not allowed to marry, and were not allowed to live where they wanted. Slavery improved GA’s economy Agricultural production began to boom, especially on rice plantations

Alcohol Rum production increased in the colony.

Three Royal Governors 1754-1756 John Reynolds 1756- 1760 Henry Ellis Frequently at odds with the Georgia General Assembly and was not liked 1756- 1760 Henry Ellis Better liked, improved relations with Creek and local traders. Left due to poor health caused by the heat 1760-1776 James Wright Maintained loyalties to Britain during onset of Revolution