1. From Trustee Georgia to Royal Georgia
Georgia Studies Notes

2. Georgia’s Beginnings
Georgia began as a Trustee Colony with its original charter in 1732.
The Trustee Period lasted from 1733 to 1752.
Plans for
City of
Savannah

3. Trustee Leaders James Oglethorpe 21 trustees
King (George II) is ultimate authority
James Oglethorpe

4. Governance King had ultimate authority
Trustees made regulations which had to be obeyed by colonists
King George II

5. Georgia’s Colonial Boundaries
All lands between the Altamaha and Savannah Rivers west to the Pacific Ocean
Boundaries in original charter

6. Land Ownership/Distribution
Original colonists were given 50 acres of land
Colonists who could afford to pay their way to Georgia were given 500 acres
Mulberry Tree

7. Slavery
Slavery was not allowed by the Charter of 1732
Charter of 1732

8. Religion The original settlers were all Protestants
Within a short period of time, Georgia also had Jewish settlers
Christ Church in Savannah
John Wesley

9. The Colonists
Aside from original settlers who came on the Ann, many new settlers arrived during the Trustee Period:
Salzburgers
Moravians
Highland Scots
Malcontents

10. Salzburgers Originated in Salzburg, Germany
Came to Georgia because they were expelled from Catholic Germany for being Protestant
Settled in Ebenezer
Relocated to New Ebenezer because of issue with the original land
Opposed to slavery
New Ebenezer

11. Highland Scots Came to Georgia from Scotland
Settled in Darien, Georgia
Rebuilt Fort King George
Opposed to slavery
Fort King George

12. Malcontents Mainly composed of Scottish settlers near Savannah
Arrived in Georgia by paying their own way, so they did not feel the same loyalty to James Oglethorpe
Objected to three trustee rules:
Limits on land ownership
Law against slavery
Law against rum
Felt these laws limited their ability earn money
Cover of official protest

13. The Spanish Threat from Florida
In 1739, war broke out between England and Spain
This gave Oglethorpe a good reason to invade Florida which was controlled by Spain
2000 men (mainly Native Americans and settlers from GA & SC) fought to take over Spanish forts in Florida
War of Jenkin’s Ear

14. Spanish Threat continued
Not much progress was made until July 1742 in the Battle of Bloody Marsh
In this battle Highland Scots assisted Oglethorpe’s forces. This surprise attack caught the Spanish forces off guard and was the beginning of a safe southern frontier for the British.
Battle of Bloody Marsh

15. Spanish Threat continued
The Spanish eventually left the area for good after a note was sent to a British deserter warning of an impending attack by arriving ships. The arriving ships were actually trading ships, but the Spanish thought they would be outnumbered and gave up.

16. Royal Georgia
Georgia’s Royal Period lasted from

17. Leaders John Reynolds – first royal governor (ineffective)
Henry Ellis – second royal governor (established foundation for government)
James Wright – third royal governor (efficient and popular)
James Wright

18. Governance King appointed governor & council
There was a bi-cameral legislature set up to represent the original parishes in GA
Parish is a church and government
Parishes

19. Boundaries
After the French & Indian War, the southern boundary was set to the St. Mary’s River & the western boundary was set at the Mississippi River

20. Land Ownership Determined right to vote
To vote, settlers had to own 50 acres
Determined right to hold office
To be in office, settlers had to own 500 acres

21. Slavery
Allowed because the colonists were frustrated by the success of their neighbors to the north who were becoming prosperous under slavery
Slave ship

22. Religion
Puritans arrived
Puritan family

23. The Colonists
New settlers from South Carolina and the West Indies (who also brought slaves)
New settlers arrived after boundaries were expanded after the French & Indian War
Some were considered undesirable (crackers)
Georgia “crackers”