1. The Colonization of Georgia
Georgia Studies Notes

2. James Edward Oglethorpe
Member of influential English family
Well educated & wealthy
In 1722, became a member of Parliament

3. His Importance to Georgia
While Oglethorpe was serving in Parliament, Great Britain had problems with unemployment
People were having problems with debt
The punishment for not paying debt was prison
Oglethorpe had a friend who died of smallpox in prison, and began to push for prison reform

4. Oglethorpe’s Dream
Oglethorpe and several colleagues came up with an idea to start a colony in the New World for “unfortunate but worthy individuals”
In 1730, they asked King George II for a tract of land southwest of Carolina for settling the poor people of London

5. Economics, Defense, & Charity
England had two main goals when new colonies were formed
Economics: balanced trade to make England self-sufficient
Defense: buffers to help protect English colonies from French, Spanish & Native Americans
Oglethorpe & friends added one more to the list:
Charity: new start for the worthy poor

6. Charter of 1732
On June 7, 1732, King George II granted a charter making Georgia a Trustee Colony
Trustees: people who hold responsibility on behalf of others, like a trustee government.
This charter (a legal document that grants special rights and privileges) included all land and territories between the Altamaha and Savannah Rivers westward to the Pacific Ocean.

9. Limits of the Charter of 1732
Trustees could not own land, hold political office, or be given money for their work
Catholics, blacks, liquor dealers, and lawyers could not become colonists
Trustees were to receive instructions from the king & were only to manage the colony for a specific amount of time – 20 years

10. The First Georgians All applicants were carefully investigated
No debtors or former prisoners were chosen
Those who were selected received:
Fifty acres of land, tools, and enough food for one year
Those who could pay their own way received:
500 acres of land and permission to take indentured servants (a person under contract to work for another person for a definite period of time, usually without pay but in exchange for free passage to a new country)

11. The Colonists’ Responsibility
To defend the colony against all enemies
Land given to colonists could not be sold or borrowed against
Colonists had to cultivate (grow crops on) their land
A portion of colonists’ land was to be used to grow mulberry trees to cultivate silk
All regulations established by Trustees had to be obeyed

12. The Voyage of the Ship Ann
November 17, Between 114 and 125 people with no debt sailed from London for Georgia. The voyage took 88 days.

13. Help for the Colonists
The land that became Georgia was already occupied by the Yamacraw Indians when the new colonists arrived
Oglethorpe sought the help of traders John and Mary Musgrove in getting settled among the native people
Mary was part Native American/ part British and became an interpreter for the colonists as they negotiated with Tomochichi, the Yamacraw chief

14. Oglethorpe & Tomochichi
With Mary Musgrove’s help, Tomochichi and Oglethorpe became close friends
Tomochichi allowed the colonists to settle on Yamacraw Bluff, at the mouth of the Savannah River
Georgia officially became the thirteenth English colony in the New World
BFF

15. The City of Savannah The plan was for Savannah to have four squares
On the North & South side of each square were 20 lots – each 60 by 90 feet
On the West & East side larger lots were set aside for churches & stores
Center of each square was set aside for social, political, and religious gatherings
Squares were divided into blocks (wards) & each block had 10 houses

16. Plans for City of Savannah

17. Colonists Responsibilities
Care for own home
Cultivate mulberry trees to feed silkworms
Build sundial for telling time
Build gristmill, courthouse, water well, & bakery