JAMES OGLETHORPE AND THE ORIGINS OF COLONIAL GEORGIA

JAMES OGLETHORPE AND THE ORIGINS OF COLONIAL GEORGIA A Lesson on Standard: SS 8 H 2 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.

JAMES OGLETHORPE Founder of Georgia � Former British Parliament Member � Concerned with Felons and Debtors in England � Proposed establishing a “charity colony” in the New World for debtors to have a new start �

GETTING THE COLONY APPROVED � With 30 other men, requested a charter for a colony named after King George II in 1730— together formed Board of Trustees � Oglethorpe gave charitable, economic, and defense reasons why the colony should be established, all of which were included in the Charter of 1732 along with certain regulations for the colony

CHARITY � Oglethorpe was concerned with the working poor and people who were in debtor’s prison and the workhouses � England had a large population of debtors because changes brought by the Industrial Revolution had reduced the availability of jobs. � The colony was supposed to be a place where poor people could improve their lives

ECONOMIC � The point of all colonies was to supply resources to England, which as a country does not have much land to produce resources itself � Silk and Wine were in high demand in Europe. Oglethorpe believed that Georgia would be a great place to produce silkworms and wine grapes so that England could participate in the silk and wine trades.

DEFENSE England “owned” the Carolinas, which provided rice and tobacco. � Spanish “owned” Florida, and did not like England. � A colony between the two would protect the economic interests of England. �

REGULATION IN THE CHARTER OF 1732 � The charter stated that Georgia was not allowed to have certain things: 1. No rum. 2. No slaves. 3. No lawyers. 4. No land ownership. � Eventually, all of these things ended up in the colony.

THE LOCATION OF GEORGIA � After the charter was approved in 1732 Oglethorpe traveled to America to scope out the location for the colony � Piece of land near Yamacraw Bluff, overlooking the Savannah River looked promising � Had to get the permission of Natives first….

TOMOCHICHI AND MARY MUSGROVE Tomochichi was the chief of the people for which Yamacraw bluff was named. � Oglethorpe’s interpreter James Musgrove had a Creek wife who helped Oglethorpe gain Tomochichi’s Approval �

ARTICLES OF FRIENDSHIP AND COMMERCE � Oglethorpe still had to get the Creek National Councils permission to settle near Yamacraw Bluff � Tomochichi was an important ally in gaining permission � The Articles of Friendship and Commerce emerged, establishing the fact that the Creeks were just “lending” the land that trade between the Creeks and settlers would happen with set rates and prices

SETTLING THE SETTLERS Having gained permission to settle, Oglethorpe returned with colonists in February of 1733 � Settlers immediately began building the city of Savannah �

CITY OF SAVANNAH In town: families were given lots of 60’ by 90’ and 5 acre gardens outside of town � 45 acres of farmland in the country side in order to contribute to economy. �

REVIEW: � Why did James Oglethorpe want to establish the colony of Georgia? � What was supposed to be the purpose of Georgia? � Who were Tomochichi and Mary Musgrove? � What did the Charter of 1732 not allow in Georgia?