Accomplishments of Trustee GA 1733-1752

The colony was full of disagreement (malcontents) but still many good things:

• 5500 people had settled GA over the 21 years of Trusteeship

• Treaties with Native Americans and end of Spanish Threat made GA a safe haven.

• Methodist Church was founded by John and Charles Wesley

• Whitfield established an Orphanage at Ebenezer

• Court system was established• Colonists gained outright ownership of land• Women were able to inherit property• All in all- they survived the hardships

encountered and set the stage for success!• Non sibi sed alis? SUCCESS!• But GA was turned over from a proprietary

colony to a royal colony in 1752 (governed now by the King)

Boundaries

• Under the Charter of 1732 all lands between the Savannah and the Altamah rivers from their mouths to their headwaters and then due west in parallel lines to the Pacific Ocean

• See pp 90-92 for ROYAL RULE

Government

• All laws regulations enacted by the Trustees in England were subject to approval by the king. No colonial legislative body, real governor (other than Oglethorpe)

• See pp 90-91 for ROYAL RULE

Religion

• No established church

• Freedom of religion…

EXCEPT CATHOLICS!

Even Jews had a place!

See p. 90 for ROYAL RULE

Land ownership

• 50 acres for gardens and farms

• Colonists who paid their own way-50 acres PLUS 50 acres per family member and servant up to 500 acres

• Can not sell land

• Only males can inherit land

• See p. 92 for ROYAL RULE

Slavery

• Slaves prohibited until 1750 after malcontents objected to slave ownership, land restrictions and no rum!

• Malcontents v. Salzburgers(especially Bolzius) as well as the Highland Scots.

DEBATED THE ISSUE OF SLAVERY!

See p.89 for ROYAL RULE

Georgia as a Royal Colony

1752-1776

Georgia Becomes A Royal Colony

• The last part of the 18th century was time of growth and development:• New Jersey- first steam engine• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania- Liberty Bell• Benjamin Banneker- put together the first

clock • Benjamin Franklin- invented bifocals• Roads started to be paved in the NE

colonies

• 1752- The 21 trustees gave control of Georgia back to King George. Georgia becomes a royal colony.

• People who left Georgia when it was under the control of the trustees began to return

• Slaves were brought to Georgia

• Rice and indigo are grown

Georgia’s First Governor and Government

• Under the control of the trustees, Georgia settlers had no right to vote, hold elections, or collect taxes.

• 1754- John Reynolds is named the first royal governor of Georgia

• John Reynolds wanted the colonists to help run the government (self-government)

Bicameral Legislature

• Reynolds set up a bicameral legislature to represent the eight parishes of Georgia.

• In order to vote: own 50 acres of land

• Two parts of the legislature: Lower House (Commons House of Assembly) and Upper House (Governor’s Council)

Lower House Upper House

• Commons House of Assembly

• Members had to own no less than 500 acres of land

• Members could write and vote on bills before they became laws

• Governor’s Council• Members were

appointed by the king of England

• Wealthy, influential landowners

• Advise the governor, approve land grants, make laws, act as judges in legal cases

Court System

• Governor John Reynolds also set up a court system

• Named the Court of Conscience• Colonists brought their cases before a

local justice of the peace• Cases that couldn’t be settled in the

Court of Conscience could be carried to the Governor’s Council

Georgia’s First Assembly

• Met for the first time in 1775

• Savannah- colony’s capital city

• Reorganized the state militia, passed bills so that roads could be built, drew up codes that restricted the rights of slaves

Governor Reynolds versus the Assembly

• Governor Reynolds and the Assembly had a disagreement over defense budget and he sent them home

• Gov. Reynolds decided to govern by himself• Georgians were split over those who wanted

their self-government back and those who liked Gov. Reynolds and wanted him to remain in charge

• After two years, the self-government group won and Governor Reynolds was replaced

Governor Henry Ellis

• 1757- Chosen by the King to replace Governor Reynolds.

• A scientist• Sought advice from governor of South Carolina,

brought together many different types of people and depended on the wealthy citizens to lead the colony

• Population grew with new settlers and slaves. By 1759- 10,000 settlers (3,600) slaves

• Became ill in 1759 and returned to England. He had been a popular governor. The colony made economic gains

Slavery in Georgia

• Highland Scots at Darien and Salzburgers at Ebenezer were opposed to slavery

• Not many large plantations at this time, but the wealthy landowners kept getting more land and wanted more slaves.

Governor James Wright

• Appointed by King George III in 1760• He grew up in America, was loyal to the king

but also wanted the colonies to do well• He thought that Georgia would continue to

prosper if: • Farms were even bigger• More trading was done• Western lands of the colony were opened to

settlers

French and Indian War• British and Colonists versus the French and

the American Indians• Spain joins to help France towards the end of

the war• Fought for control of land in the New World• British and colonists won• Treaty of Paris (1763)- ended the war;

Canada and all lands claimed by France east of the Mississippi River (except New Orleans) were given to Great Britain; Spain gives Florida to Great Britain as well.

Expansion of Georgia’s Borders

• Georgia did not participate in the French and Indian War but benefited from it.

• As a result of the War, Georgia’s southern border was moved to the St. Mary’s River

• Indians gave up all land between Ogeechee and Savannah rivers north the Augusta and coastal land south to the Altamaha River

Results of the War and Land Expansion

• Ended the danger of French and Spanish attacks along land borders

• Colonists could begin to settle inland instead of just along the coast

• Indians were being pushed father and farther to the west

• Provided water access for shipping

• Fertile farmland• Dense forests with

timber and naval store resources

Positive Changes under Governor James Wright

• Sunbury became the official port of entry for ships

• Upper and Lower houses of legislature work together

• Farmers bought more land• Rice, indigo and silk are produced• More schools and literacy increased• The first newspaper, The Georgia Gazette,

was started (1763)• Bigger, nicer houses and buildings

Negative Changes under Governor James Wright

• Many mothers died in childbirth

• Schools was mostly for rich children

• Slavery increased

• Many undesirables and lawbreakers moved here

Future Problems….

• No plan for defending the colony

• Poorer settlers in Georgia began to ask for a greater voice in the government

• Some settlers began to call for independence from Great Britain