1. The Royal Colony of Georgia
SS8H2d Explain the transition of Georgia into a royal colony with regard to land ownership, slavery, alcohol, and government.

2. Recap
In 1752, Georgia’s Trustees gave their charter back to King George II.
This was ONE year before the original charter expired.
Georgia became a Royal Colony, under the direct rule of the King of England.

3. What is a role of a Royal Governor?
The King of England appointed a Royal Governor to represent him in Georgia.
Georgia was allowed some self- government with a legislature called the House of Assembly
The Royal Governor had final authority on ALL MATTERS and answered only to the King!

4. Proprietary vs Royal
Proprietary Colony – a colony that was governed by a board of trustees.
Ex: Georgia was a proprietary colony from 1732 – 1752.
Royal Colony – a colony directly governed by the King.
Ex: Georgia became a royal colony when the trustees ended their charter with the King in 1752 and remained that way until the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783.

5. Governor John Reynolds 1754 - 1756
Former Naval Officer
Welcomed by the colonists
Positive Contributions:
1. Created a General Assembly promoting self-government.
2. Created a bicameral legislature
3. Set up a court system: Court of Conscience
4. Created laws:
Required males 16 to 60 to be organized in a militia
Required all males to work on roads at least 12 hours a day

6. Reynolds' downfall Land ownership determined government participation
50 acres to vote
500 to be in legislature
He resisted any challenge to his authority and would dissolved the legislature when he felt his authority was threatened.
Ruled as a commander instead of a civil office.
Angry colonists wrote to King George complaining about Reynolds actions, which led to his recall in 1956.

7. Henry Ellis 1757 - 1760 Naturalist and a scientist
More popular than Reynolds
Positive Contributions:
Divide Georgia into 8 parishes
Indian Relations
Created workable friendship with leaders of Creek nation
Managed trade agreements between Creek and local traders
Encouraged stability in the colony.
Weaknesses/End of Term:
Left office after becoming ill in 1760

8. James Wright 1760-1781 History: 3rd Royal governor Practicing attorney
Plantation owner in South Carolina
Positive Contributions:
Encouraged natives to cede land to the colony
Expanded land ownership and trade
Completed defensive palisades around Savannah and strengthened forts
Weaknesses/End of Term:
Maintained loyalty to Britain
Enforced the Stamp Act in
Tried to keep the revolutionary spirit our of Georgia
Forced to flee during the revolution
Courtesy of Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library,
University of Georgia Libraries

9. Changes as a Royal Colony
Georgia had the shortest colonial period and was the least developed.
The economic success of the colony immediately improved with the removal of the economic restrictions

10. Changes as a Royal Colony
The Rum Act was repealed in 1749
Women were allowed to own Land
No land limits
No laws against slavery
Land was gained from American Indians
Economic Impacts on the Georgia Colony:
Development of large plantations.
Farmers and merchants became wealthy
Savannah became a major port city exporting goods to England
Georgia’s population grew due to the number of slaves need to work the land:
Slave population increased to 500
1775- Slave population increased to 18,000

11. Georgia’s Colonial Exports
Silk- some success with help of Salzburgers and Italians. Eventually replaced by cotton
Rice- Georgia’s first staple crop. With the end of the ban of slavery, rice plantations were established and increased to 40,000 acres along the rice rivers (Savannah, Ogeechee, Altamaha, and Satila)
Indigo- bluish purple die peaked in 1770 with exporting 22,000 pounds
Other colonial products included: timber, fur, tobacco

12. Georgia Crackers
Some new settlers were considered undesirable by the established colonist and were given the derogatory name “crackers.”
They settled the western frontier of the colony.
More settlers improved Georgia’s economy and increased the colony borders.