Southern Cool-onies

The Carolinas

Background Charter granted by King Charles II in 1663 Began as just CAROLINA, not split into North and South YET Power in the Carolinas was split between 8 nobles called the “Lord Proprietors” These nobles were selected because they did something to help King Charles retake the throne in England ( REVIEW TIME – WHO DID CHARLES TAKE POWER FROM AND WHY?) granted power to establish civil structures, to collect taxes and duties, and to maintain order, as well as to have certain game and mineral ownership. Mostly incompetent – led to many folks not wanting to move there, and also conflict with natives.

The (banana) Split Divide grows between north and south part of Carolinas Two different populations North    Consisted mainly of small tobacco farmers from Virginia. Small family farms. Many former indentured servants who acquired small plots of land Became annoyed because people in the south looked down on them Slavery not as prominent South   Rich farmers with hugeeeee plantations These huge plantations needed a lot of workers…guess who works these farms and produces all the wealth??? Headquarters located in Charleston Because of these differences, a split was decided (probably) in 1712, and both flourished separately.

Maryland

Maryland Rich in natural resources : forests, fish, and good farming land. Plantations grew tobacco, cotton, corn, vegetables, grains, and fruit. Livestock was also commonly raised in the Maryland Colony Lord Baltimore (Sir George Calvent) given a charter in early 1632 by Protestant King Charles II, essentially as a way to get him out of England Rising political star until he converts to Catholicism Goes to US for religious freedom for Catholics…..oh and he dies later in 1632 Charter given to his son Cecil Calvert, who becomes the new Lord Baltimore

Act of Toleration (1689) Freedom of religion to protect Catholics and protestants in Maryland Early form of the first amendment – “free exercise of religion” Made it illegal to talk about another persons religion in disparaging way (Not quite at the freedom of speech thing yet) Interestingly, it made it illegal to talk bad or blaspheme God The state of Maryland did restrict this act at numerous points in history though……so, folks still were not totally tolerant.

Georgia

Background English Debt Law – people who owed money to the English crown could be put in jail until the debt was repaid (yeeesh). Can they pay off the debt then? We got a problem SOLUTION: Let’s create a colony where prisoners work off their debt as essentialy slave labor Main leader: James Oglethorpe Georgia also served as barrier Spanish Florida to the South 13th colony