Georgia’s Charter

SS8H2 The student will

analyze the colonial period

of Georgia’s history.

•a. Explain the importance of James

Oglethorpe, the Charter of 1732, reasons for

settlement (charity, economics, and defense),

Tomochichi, Mary Musgrove, and the city of

Savannah.

•b. Evaluate the Trustee Period of Georgia’s

colonial history, emphasizing the role of the

Salzburgers, Highland Scots, malcontents,

and the Spanish threat from Florida.

•c. Explain the development of Georgia as a

royal colony with regard to land ownership,

slavery, government, and the impact of the

royal governors.

Essential Questions 1. What was James Oglethorpe’s dream and what

steps did he initiate to make his dream become

reality?

2. What is a charter and evaluate the effectiveness of

the original Charter of 1732.

3. What were the three reasons for building a

settlement in Georgia.

4. Explain the relationship between Oglethorpe,

Tomochichi, and Mary Musgrove and how this

relationship impacted the growth and development

of Savannah?

5. Evaluate the Trustee Period of Georgia’s colonial

history, emphasizing the role of the Salzburgers,

Highland Scots, malcontents, and the Spanish

threat from Florida.

6. Describe the development of Georgia as a royal

colony with regard to land ownership, slavery,

government, and the impact of the royal governors.

England Needs a Military Base

With the establishments of new colonies, England is

scared that Spain will attack the New England and

Middle colonies.

England decided they need to have a buffer between

its colonies and Spanish troops who are in south

Florida.

They need a place to build a military base but there

was no colony in Georgia. England was faced with a

hard decision, who will colonize Georgia?

After taking Spanish land, England is afraid

Spain will try to take it back.

Early Claims to Georgia

Scotland

- wanted to settle Georgia

but did not have enough

money to support the

settlement.

Early Claims to Georgia

English Settlers

- English settlers had

money to support the

settlement.

- English settlers get the

option.

James Oglethorpe

1. Born into a wealthy

family in London

2. Member of the British

Parliament (similar to

U.S. Congress)

Coachbook Break

pg. 23

Problems in England

England’s economy was

in trouble.

They had many poor

people. Many were sent

to jail for stealing food.

There were not enough

jobs so people could not

work.

People who couldn’t pay

their debts were sent to

jail.

James Oglethorpe

Timeline

of Events Coachbook

pg. 23

Why did Oglethorpe have

compassion for debtors in

England’s prison?

Oglethorpe cared about poor people and

wanted to help them.

His best friend had gone to jail because he

could not pay his debts.

He was angry about the conditions of English

jails and he worked to reform prison

conditions

Oglethorpe’s Dream

Oglethorpe’s Dream: Start a colony for debtors so

that they could get out of jail and work to repay their

debts. A promise of a fresh start.

Letting people out of jail did no good

because there were not enough jobs.

They would just go back for stealing

food.

There were jobs so people could

work to buy food. People are starving

and living in poverty.

Gallery Walk

Teacher Hint: Print off the next three slides and add to the gallery walk

Reasons King George II Granted Georgia’s

Colonial Charter based on the following

terms:

1. Charity – would give

debtors a fresh start. This

would enable them to pay off

their debts and free space in

prisons that were

overcrowded.

Reasons King George II Granted

Georgia’s Colonial Charter

2. Defense

- would help defend the Carolinas from the Spanish in

Florida

- would help defend again the French who were

moving east from the Mississippi region

Reasons King George II Granted

Georgia’s Colonial Charter

3. Economics – the colony would be able to provide resources that England was currently importing from other countries

More Land and Power

more land = more power for England and raw products could be sold for profit.

Georgia’s

Charter King George II granted the royal

charter on June 7, 1732 to

Oglethorpe and the trustees.

Charter – legal documents

granting rights and privileges

Trustees – people who hold

responsibility on behalf of others.

Georgia will become a

Proprietary colony and a

board of trustees will

serve as the leaders of

Georgia. Colonist will

have to follow the rules of

the board.

Stipulations of Georgia’s Charter

Trustees would take control of Georgia. These trustees would work for King George and send profits back to England. They would

reside as governors of Georgia.

Trustees could not:

1. own land

2. hold political office

3. could not make a profit for their work

Propaganda Attracts them from All over!

Settlers were given a land plot to

open a business or build a house

in the city of Savannah.

Given five acres at the edge of

town to grow food for the

trustees since they could not

own land.

Given 45 acres outside the town

to make money by growing

crops and harvesting natural

resources that could be sold for

money.

Stipulations for Colonists Wanting to

Settle Georgia.

1. Each man had to help defend the new colony against ALL

enemies.

2. Land given to the colonists could not be sold for profit. Land

could only be passed to male heirs.

3. Colonists would be given seeds and farming equipment and a

portion of the proceeds would go to England.

4. A portion of their 45 acres must be used to grow mulberry

trees for silk worms.

5. Colonists were to obey all rules and regulations of the

trustees.

Stipulations of Georgia’s Charter

The trustees decide to prohibited the following groups from colonizing Georgia. These people would not be

allowed to enter Georgia or own or work the land for profit:

Catholics – in England, Catholics and members of the Church of England didn’t get along

Blacks – so that slavery would not be introduced

Liquor Dealers – so that alcohol wouldn’t interfere with work

Lawyers – so people would settle problems outside of work