Unit 3/4Unit 3/4Colonization of GeorgiaColonization of Georgia

James Edward OglethorpeJames Edward Oglethorpe

Founder of the Founder of the Georgia colony (13Georgia colony (13thth))

Activist who wanted to Activist who wanted to reform the prisons of reform the prisons of England, as well as England, as well as the laws affecting the laws affecting people in jail who people in jail who owed debtsowed debts

Proposed a colony to Proposed a colony to give them a fresh startgive them a fresh start

Why did Oglethorpe settle Why did Oglethorpe settle Georgia?Georgia?

Conflict and changeConflict and change• Defend from Spanish FloridaDefend from Spanish Florida• Defend from French in Mississippi regionDefend from French in Mississippi region• Religion: freedom and sanctuary for Religion: freedom and sanctuary for

Protestants escaping Church of EnglandProtestants escaping Church of England Production, distribution, and Production, distribution, and

consumptionconsumption• Trade with the IndiansTrade with the Indians• Production of silk, cotton, dyes, wine, spicesProduction of silk, cotton, dyes, wine, spices• A new market for English goodsA new market for English goods

Georgia’s CharterGeorgia’s Charter Charter: legal document that Charter: legal document that

grants special rights and grants special rights and privileges to a group for a certain privileges to a group for a certain area (which explorer lost all of his area (which explorer lost all of his money, and was the impetus for money, and was the impetus for the idea of charters?)the idea of charters?)• Boundaries: Savannah and Boundaries: Savannah and

Altamaha RiversAltamaha Rivers• Atlantic to Pacific OceanAtlantic to Pacific Ocean

Charter outlined 3 purposes for Charter outlined 3 purposes for the new colony: the new colony: • CharitableCharitable• EconomicEconomic• DefensiveDefensive

New Rules for the New ColonyNew Rules for the New Colony Rules established by the trustees made Rules established by the trustees made

Georgia different from other colonies:Georgia different from other colonies:• Trustees could not own landTrustees could not own land• Trustees could not make a profit from the Trustees could not make a profit from the

colonycolony• This helped prevent social class issues that plagued This helped prevent social class issues that plagued

other colonies. other colonies.

• Trustees were not allowed to drink rum or Trustees were not allowed to drink rum or other hard liquor (drinking would interfere with other hard liquor (drinking would interfere with their working)their working)

• Slavery was banned, as Oglethorpe believed Slavery was banned, as Oglethorpe believed that white settlers became lazy when they let that white settlers became lazy when they let slaves to do their work. slaves to do their work.

Georgia’s CharterGeorgia’s Charter

What was included: What was included: • Catholics, blacks, liquor dealers, and lawyers Catholics, blacks, liquor dealers, and lawyers

could not become colonists.could not become colonists.• The colony belonged to England and nothing The colony belonged to England and nothing

could be done with the King’s permission could be done with the King’s permission (which economic principle does this relate to?)(which economic principle does this relate to?)

RegulationsRegulations• Each man was to defend the colonyEach man was to defend the colony• Land could not be soldLand could not be sold• Land must be given to a male heirLand must be given to a male heir• Land must be cultivated with the seeds providedLand must be cultivated with the seeds provided• Plant Mulberry trees (silk)Plant Mulberry trees (silk)• Obey regulationsObey regulations

Setting out for GeorgiaSetting out for Georgia November November

1732:Oglethorpe and 1732:Oglethorpe and the new colonists set the new colonists set out for the New World out for the New World aboard the ship “Ann”. aboard the ship “Ann”.

February 1733: February 1733: Arrived in South Arrived in South Carolina—met with Carolina—met with Royal Governor who Royal Governor who asked for protection asked for protection from attacks by the from attacks by the Yamasee Indians and Yamasee Indians and the Spanishthe Spanish

Georgia’s First DaysGeorgia’s First Days After docking the colonists, After docking the colonists,

Oglethorpe sailed south looking for Oglethorpe sailed south looking for a site for the new colony—selected a site for the new colony—selected Yamacraw Bluff, a site beside the Yamacraw Bluff, a site beside the Savannah River (location)Savannah River (location)

John and Mary Musgrove had a John and Mary Musgrove had a trading monopoly in this area and trading monopoly in this area and served as translators between served as translators between Tomochichi, chief of the Yamacraw Tomochichi, chief of the Yamacraw Indians, and OglethorpeIndians, and Oglethorpe

Musgroves urged Oglethorpe to Musgroves urged Oglethorpe to sign a treaty with Tomochichito sign a treaty with Tomochichito settle at Yamacraw Bluff. settle at Yamacraw Bluff.

Treaty of Savannah: Signed by the Treaty of Savannah: Signed by the Creek and the colonists—Creek Creek and the colonists—Creek agreed to give the land to the agreed to give the land to the colonists, who in turn, agreed to colonists, who in turn, agreed to trade with the Creek at set pricestrade with the Creek at set prices

Why was Savannah such an Why was Savannah such an important settlement (location!)? important settlement (location!)?

TomochichiTomochichi Chief of the Yamacraw (part of the Chief of the Yamacraw (part of the

Creek Confederacy)Creek Confederacy) An important ally to Oglethorpe. An important ally to Oglethorpe.

He was so respected that he He was so respected that he accompanied Oglethorpe (and the accompanied Oglethorpe (and the Musgroves) to England in 1734. Musgroves) to England in 1734. There, Tomochichi met the King There, Tomochichi met the King while he was in London. while he was in London. Impressed with what he saw, King Impressed with what he saw, King George II was convinced that the George II was convinced that the Creek Confederacy should be Creek Confederacy should be allies of Englandallies of England

1739: Oglethorpe signed the 1739: Oglethorpe signed the Treaty of Coweta, in which the Treaty of Coweta, in which the chiefs reaffirmed their loyalty to chiefs reaffirmed their loyalty to King George II. King George II.

The First YearThe First Year Oglethorpe was an Oglethorpe was an

accepted leader…accepted leader…dutiesduties::• He got land grantsHe got land grants• Treaties with IndiansTreaties with Indians• Built fortBuilt fort• Trained a Trained a militiamilitia

Citizen ArmyCitizen Army• Advice and encouragementAdvice and encouragement

Battled sicknessBattled sickness, climate, , climate, poor sanitation, and hard poor sanitation, and hard laborlabor• July 1733-July 1733- Dr. NunisDr. Nunis: :

Jewish doctor who came Jewish doctor who came over on a ship carrying 42 over on a ship carrying 42 other settlers.other settlers.

• Artisans:Artisans: craftspeople… craftspeople…Georgia’s first settlers were Georgia’s first settlers were mostly skilled laborers.mostly skilled laborers.

Early Colonial SavannahEarly Colonial Savannah

EbenezerEbenezer

March 1734-March 1734- German Protestants,German Protestants, forced to leave their forced to leave their homeland by the homeland by the Catholics, formed a Catholics, formed a town 25 miles north town 25 miles north of Savannah…1736 of Savannah…1736 moved away from moved away from the river wetlands the river wetlands and called this New and called this New Ebenezer.Ebenezer.

Diagram of EbenezerDiagram of Ebenezer

Colonial Unrest in GeorgiaColonial Unrest in Georgia

1736-1736- While Oglethorpe was in While Oglethorpe was in England with Tomochichi and 5 other England with Tomochichi and 5 other Indians, Georgia’s colonists were Indians, Georgia’s colonists were voicing their displeasure of the voicing their displeasure of the regulationsregulations that Oglethorpe that Oglethorpe enforced:enforced:• No SlavesNo Slaves• No Rum (alcohol)No Rum (alcohol)• Only male heirs could keep landOnly male heirs could keep land

Battle of Bloody MarshBattle of Bloody Marsh 1739-1739- War broke out between War broke out between

England and Spain…also England and Spain…also Known as the Known as the “War of “War of Jenkin’s Ear”Jenkin’s Ear” The war was named The war was named after Robert Jenkins, captain of the ship after Robert Jenkins, captain of the ship Rebecca, who claimed Spanish guards had cut Rebecca, who claimed Spanish guards had cut off his ear in 1731. He exhibited the ear in the off his ear in 1731. He exhibited the ear in the British House of Commons, inflaming public British House of Commons, inflaming public opinion against the Spanish. The government of opinion against the Spanish. The government of the British Prime Minister Robert Walpole the British Prime Minister Robert Walpole reluctantly declared war on 23 October 1739.reluctantly declared war on 23 October 1739.

• Oglethorpe prepared his borders Oglethorpe prepared his borders with Floridawith Florida

• June, 1740-June, 1740- Oglethorpe led a Oglethorpe led a group of Georgian and South group of Georgian and South Carolinian settlers, as well as Carolinian settlers, as well as friendly Indians, to attack the friendly Indians, to attack the Spanish fort at St. Augustine, Spanish fort at St. Augustine, Florida.Florida.

Beaten back by a well-Beaten back by a well-trained Spanish Armytrained Spanish Army

July, 1742-July, 1742- Spanish attack St. Simon’s Spanish attack St. Simon’s IslandIsland• Oglethorpe drove them back Oglethorpe drove them back

without either side being hurtwithout either side being hurt• ““Battle of Bloody Marsh”Battle of Bloody Marsh”

Fort St. AugustineFort St. Augustine

Oglethorpe’s Final DaysOglethorpe’s Final Days

1743-1743- Oglethorpe left Georgia to Oglethorpe left Georgia to defend himself in England about his defend himself in England about his loss at St. Augustine…proven loss at St. Augustine…proven innocent…never returned to Georgia.innocent…never returned to Georgia.

With Oglethorpe gone, the colonists began With Oglethorpe gone, the colonists began to allow alcohol, slaves, and the sale of land.to allow alcohol, slaves, and the sale of land.

1752-1752- Georgia time of control by the Georgia time of control by the Trustees ended and was returned to the Trustees ended and was returned to the authority of King George II.authority of King George II.

Colonial Georgia PeopleColonial Georgia People

George WhitfieldGeorge Whitfield: evangelist who established the Bethesda : evangelist who established the Bethesda Orphans Home in EbenezerOrphans Home in Ebenezer

John and Charles WesleyJohn and Charles Wesley: founders of the Methodist Church…: founders of the Methodist Church…established first Sunday Schoolestablished first Sunday School

Reverend John Martin BolziusReverend John Martin Bolzius: leader of the German : leader of the German Protestants from SalzburgProtestants from Salzburg

Peter GordonPeter Gordon: kept a journal describing his trip on the ship “Ann”: kept a journal describing his trip on the ship “Ann”• Provided earliest view of SavannahProvided earliest view of Savannah

The WesleysThe Wesleys

The role of the SalzburgersThe role of the Salzburgers Salzburgers: A group of German Salzburgers: A group of German

Protestants that were forced to Protestants that were forced to leave Salzburg, Germany by leave Salzburg, Germany by Catholics. Catholics.

Led by John Martin BolziusLed by John Martin Bolzius Oglethorpe allowed them to settle Oglethorpe allowed them to settle

25 miles north of Savannah, and 25 miles north of Savannah, and they began the town of Ebenezer they began the town of Ebenezer (which means “The Rock of Help”. (which means “The Rock of Help”.

Land was marshy and poor for Land was marshy and poor for crops; Salzburgs asked crops; Salzburgs asked Oglethorpe for a better site, and Oglethorpe for a better site, and in 1736, they moved to Red Bluff in 1736, they moved to Red Bluff on the Savannah River (New on the Savannah River (New Ebenezer)Ebenezer)

When Oglethorpe returned to When Oglethorpe returned to Georgia from a trip to England Georgia from a trip to England (February 1736), he helped the (February 1736), he helped the Salzburgs move to Frederica on Salzburgs move to Frederica on St. Simons Island. St. Simons Island. (© The Georgia Salzburger Society)

Highland ScotsHighland Scots Georgia was a Georgia was a bufferbuffer colony and colony and

Oglethorpe wanted to protect the Oglethorpe wanted to protect the colony from possible attacks from colony from possible attacks from Spanish Florida. Spanish Florida.

Highland Scots: men from Highland Scots: men from Scotland who had the reputation Scotland who had the reputation of being good soldiersof being good soldiers

Arrived at the Altamaha River in Arrived at the Altamaha River in 1736—established a settlement 1736—established a settlement called “New Inverness” (later called “New Inverness” (later changed to Darien)changed to Darien)

The Scots were hard workers and The Scots were hard workers and kept many of their Scottish kept many of their Scottish traditions (including the wearing traditions (including the wearing of kilts).of kilts).

Changed to raising Changed to raising cattle/harvesting timber when cattle/harvesting timber when they couldn’t grow from the soilthey couldn’t grow from the soil

Encouraged other Scots to Encouraged other Scots to emigrate because of their emigrate because of their successful economysuccessful economy

Responsible for the earliest anti-Responsible for the earliest anti-slave petition in the South (held slave petition in the South (held from 1739-1749)from 1739-1749)

© 2009 - Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Malcontents in Colonial GeorgiaMalcontents in Colonial Georgia Malcontent: a person who is dissatisfied with the Malcontent: a person who is dissatisfied with the

existing government, administration, system, etc. existing government, administration, system, etc. Malcontents were upset over regulations imposed Malcontents were upset over regulations imposed

by Oglethorpeby Oglethorpe• Mulberry trees (wrong kind for producing large amounts Mulberry trees (wrong kind for producing large amounts

of silk)of silk)• Slavery: S. Carolina had slaves and those colonists Slavery: S. Carolina had slaves and those colonists

seemed to be prosperingseemed to be prospering• Alcohol: Colonists were not able to grow hemp, flax, Alcohol: Colonists were not able to grow hemp, flax,

indigo, or grapes for wineindigo, or grapes for wine Many of the malcontent settlers moved elsewhere Many of the malcontent settlers moved elsewhere

so that they could live more freely.so that they could live more freely. When Oglethorpe returned to Georgia after a trip When Oglethorpe returned to Georgia after a trip

to Great Britain, he found rising discontent. to Great Britain, he found rising discontent.