THE FOUNDING OF GEORGIA

The 13th colony in British North America

Spanish conquistadors searching for gold explored the southeast and southwest NA in the 16th century.Hernando Desoto led the unsuccessful expedition in the SE (1539-1542). Afterwards, the Spanish largely left NA to the British and French.

1. Increase the power of the monarch

2. Mercantilism

3. Religious freedom of individuals persecuted in Catholic countries

British MercantilismMercantilism is an

economic idea (policy) whereby a country tries to gain wealth by exporting more than the country imports.

Mercantilism runs counter to the idea of free trade

British colonies provided Britain with raw materials

Some of these materials were turned into manufactured goods

These goods would be resold to the colonists

Colonists were basically a “captive market”

MercantilismDraw a circle on the left side of the paper and

label it American ColoniesDraw a circle on the right side and label it Great

Britain.Draw arrows showing that Britain engaged in

trade with the American colonies. Label the arrows to show the flow of trade:

Raw MaterialsFinished Goods

Jamestown: 1607The first permanent English settlement in NA. Formed as a joint-stock company the colony was poorly planned but did survive.

Question: How many years between the first and last English colony’s settlement in NA?

Labor sources in the New World

• Free Labor: Many English immigrates came as free men and owned small farms (yeoman farmers). Unusual on this scale at that time.

• Indentured servants: Those who agreed to work for a number of years in exchange for passage to New World.

• Slavery: First African slaves arrive 1619. Soon becomes main agricultural labor source.

Aristocratic English landowner

Wished to help the working poor

Encouraged formation of 13th colony

Lived at Savannah Won battle of Bloody

Marsh Friend of Tomochichi’s

Reasons for the Founding of the colony of Georgia

Charity (philanthropy): Provide the worthy poor with a new start in life

Mercantilism: Provide Britain with raw materials. Georgia was to provide silk (mulberry) and indigo (blue dye). Also grapes, hemp, and other crops.

Defense: The new colony would be a defensive buffer between the Carolinas and Spanish Florida.

Religion (not stated in charter): Provide religious sanctuary (safety).

The Trustee ArrangementA trustee is legally responsible for the welfare of another person or institution

Georgia was the only trustee colony in British NA

The trustees were a group of wealthy men in Britain in charge of oversight of Ga.’s affairs (they were not paid)

Georgia’s Colonial CharterA charter is a

document that states the purpose of the organization or provides for its legal status

King George II signed in 1732

Three reasons for colony stated in charter

Georgia colony was Oglethorpe's “utopian”

vision for a community of sober, hard working,

socially responsible protestant Christians.

The colonists were discouraged from being “profit-minded”

Several groups of people were banned including lawyers

Catholics banned from colony

No hard liquor No slavery Limited land

ownership (500 acres)

Only male heirs No sale of land

Colonists had to pledge to join militia to defend colony

Life in colonial Georgia

The Anne landed at Yamacraw bluff in February 1733 after stopping off at Charleston.

Weather was rough, conditions were hard.

Within 6 months nearly 40% of colonists were dead.

Lack of potable water was a big problem until a well was sunk

Oglethorpe lived with the colonists and endured their trials

Oglethorpe meets with Tomochichi:Mary Musgrove is at center

The Yamacraw Indians and the trader Mary Musgrove proved very important to the survival of the young colony.

Question: What is a cultural liason?

The Malcontent Immigrants

Jewish Immigrants: Arrived 1733 and eventually founded one of the oldest synagogues in NA

Scotts at Darien: Very important as militia

Salzburgers: Fled persecution in Catholic Austria and settled in Georgia ( Picture: Lutheran Church at Ebenezer)

Battle of Bloody Marsh

In 1742 General Oglethorpe led a group of soldiers, many of them Scottish immigrants, to victory over a small Spanish force

Near Fort Fredericka on St Simons island

Because of terrain, battle gained its name

Part of War of Jenkin’s Ear (1742-44)

What happened to trustee Georgia?• Most colonists disliked

colony regulations-particularly ban on slavery and landholding.

• In 1750 trustees lifted slavery ban to try to save colony.

• In 1752 trustees signed over control to British government

• The noble experiment was over. Georgia was now a Royal colony.

Essential Questions or statements:

• How did economics influence the settling of North America?

• If you had been a trustee, how would you have changed the regulations to provide more incentive for the colonists?

List at least one positive and one negative outcome of the founding of Georgia.