Georgia

The Thirteenth Colony: Georgia 

  

    Georgia was founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe, governor who ran the colony with military discipline. It was originally part of the Carolinas but later given its own charter by the King. King James II had two main reasons to give Oglethorpe the charter for the land which named in his honor. Georgia would serve as a "buffer colony" to separate North Carolina from Florida and Louisiana. It was imperative for the King to do so in order to lessen the vulnerability to attack from the Spanish settlers of Florida and the French from the Louisiana territory. Since the Carolinas was valuable with the riches it provided to the King and a steady economy. Georgia also contributed to the halt of French expansion to the North. Georgia also served as a haven where previously imprisoned debtors could start anew. Therefore, the colony of Georgia was an interest to poor Englishmen where economic relief and land would be given. 

                                           

    The boat reached Charles Town and sailed through the Savannah River with a population  of one hundred and sixteen. James Oglethorpe, the first governor, kept his colony organized by first constructing a fort with guns to prioritize the safety of his people. He then began to develop friendly relationships with the Natives, mainly the Creeks, where he compromised for the land he desired. Mary Musgrove, an Native women, served as a translator for Oglethorpe for which she was payed heavily; however, she deceived the Creeks proclaiming herself their Queen succeeded in convincing them to fight the English. Oglethorpe did not shed any Native blood to seize the war and imprisoned Mary as the Creeks realized they were deceived. A few years later John Wesley came to Georgia to convert the Natives and later returned to England to found the Methodist Church.

     Oglethorpe had strictly regulated the laws of Georgia which impeded its growth compared to other colonies. The intentions for which the rules were set up was to maintain the morals and health of the society. First, in failure of male succession the land was returned to the state with exceptions of of widows. Second, trade with the Indians was prohibited unless a social licence was provided. Lastly, African slavery and rum was absolutely denied to the colonist. However, the prohibition of slavery changed in 1749 which allowed it under humane treatment of the slaves. Georgia's economy then depended on the use of African slaves for the plantation system. In 1740 Georgia and other states marched to St. Augustine and returned in failure by 1742 the Spaniards sailed to Georgia to settle the score and captured Oglethorpe. The Carolinas agreed to send supplies; however, the Spaniards thought they were battleships and fled saving both states from ruin. In 1752 Georgia became a royal colony which led to the experimentation of of slavery similar to other southern states. Silk and wine was a trial of Georgia's industry as rice, indigo and fur trade became a success in the economy.