Chapter 10: Georgia in the Royal PeriodSTUDY PRESENTATION

© 2010 Clairmont Press

Section 1: Government in Royal GeorgiaSection 2: Economic Development in Royal GeorgiaSection 3: Population Growth in Royal GeorgiaSection 4: Society and Culture in Royal Georgia

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9/9/14Prepare for your Chapter 9 Quiz – you

have 5 minutes to review your notes.You need a blue/black PEN! Have your workbook with you – you

will work on it after the quiz.Verify that pp. 43, 47, 48, 49 are

complete.You will complete p. 50 today – please

start it after you finish your quiz.3

Chapter 10, Section 1: Government in Royal Georgia

Essential Question: How did the Royal Governor differ from the Trustees

in governing Georgia?

What terms do I need to know? • French and Indian War• parish• vestry• cede

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Government in Royal GeorgiaRoyal governor, appointed by the king :

• called the legislature into session or dismissed it• granted land; commissioned ships• pardoned crime offenders; spent funds• served as commander-in-chief of the colony

12-member council, appointed by the king:• served as the upper house of a bicameral (two-

house) legislature• included prominent local leaders• proposed and voted on laws

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Government in Royal Georgia (cont’)

Commons House of Assembly:• considered to be lower house of legislature• proposed and voted on laws• initiated bills pertaining to money• Only white male landowners could vote or hold

office

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John Reynolds (1754-1757) John Reynolds had been a captain in the British

Royal Navy. Colonists were happy to have a new beginning…

at first. Governor Reynolds tried to run the colony like

the military:• Assembly was dismissed.• Council not consulted.• The resentment against Reynolds increased.

Reynolds was removed in 1757.7

John Reynolds (1754-1757)

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The French and Indian WarIn 1754, the French and Indian War mostly took

place far north of Georgia:• Britain & colonies vs. France, Spain, and Indian allies• Georgia was not affected much by the war.• Britain wonTreaty of Paris (1763): • Georgia’s western border now extended to the

Mississippi River, not the Pacific Ocean.• The southern border of Georgia was extended to St.

Mary’s River (what was it according to the charter?).

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The French and Indian War

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Henry Ellis (1757-1760) worked in various ways to improve the colony:• forts built for better

defense• Renewed pledges of

friendship with micos • Georgia divided into eight

parishes - both government and religious districts (like counties today).

Ellis had a positive impact on the colony but left due to poor health. 11

Henry Ellis

Original parishes of colonial Georgia.

James WrightGeorgia’s third and final royal governor,

James Wright, was a good leader:• truly cared about the colony• worked hard to ensure Georgia grew in

population and wealth• made Georgia his home (had 11

plantations and over 25,000 acres of land)

• Treaty of Augusta: GA gained Creek Indian land; over 3 million acres for new settlement; 4 new parishes.

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James Wright

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Indian Land Cessions to

1773

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9/10/14 Take out your notebook and prepare to

review and take notes.• What were the three parts of the royal

government of Georgia?• What part of the royal government was elected by

Georgians?• Who were the three royal governors?• Who served as royal governor the longest?• Which royal governor created parishes?• How did the French and Indian War change

Georgia’s boundaries?15

Chapter 10, Section 2: Economic Development in Royal Georgia

Essential Question:• How did economic changes improve the lives of

Georgia’s colonists? What terms do I need to know?

• naval stores• cash crop• headright system• tutor

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Georgia’s economy was basically agricultural following the French and Indian War:• farmers grew subsistence crops (to

feed self and family) & raised animals Important cash crops of the period

were rice and indigo. Georgians continued to make

money from their native pine trees (naval stores: timber and sap) and their fur and skin trade with the Indians.

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Georgia’s Early Economy

Indigo plant used to make a purple-blue dye. Image: Public Domain.

Land PolicyThere were three ways for settlers to

acquire land in royal Georgia:1. buy it2. a gift/an inheritance3. grant from the colonial government

Grants given under the headright system:• Free land to attract colonists• size of grant based on size of applicant’s

household (100 acres plus 50 more for every household member)

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The Growth of TownsMost Georgians were farmers or planters,

but towns and villages supported other occupations:• professionals included doctors and lawyers• communities had artisans (e.g., coopers,

cartwrights, blacksmiths, carpenters, tanners, bakers, tailors, and tutors)

Removing land ownership restrictions & allowing slavery led to economic growth but also the development of unequal classes. 19

9/11/14 Prepare to take a few notes on

Chapter 10, Sections 3 & 4.The faster we finish the more

time you will have to complete your trustee Georgia assignment!

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Chapter 10, Section 3: Population Growth in Royal Georgia

Essential Question:• How did colonial Georgia grow

under the rule of the Royal Governors?

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Enslaved People in GeorgiaPlanters who grew rice and indigo relied on the

labor of slaves from AfricaGeorgia saw the growth of slavery to work rice

and indigo plantations:• The work was dangerous (infected waters, alligators,

poisonous snakes, and mosquitoes)• Most rice plantation slaves worked under the

“task system” – assigned a certain number of tasks per day.

• Received some food or clothing from their masters. • Not required to work on Sundays.• Some slaves learned special skills (e.g., carpentry) and

could be hired out to make extra money for the owner.22

18th Century Slave Trade

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Slave CodesIn 1755, Georgia passed a Slave

Code (code=set of laws):• Laws governed the behavior of slaves

and masters.• The code was supposed to prevent

mistreatment of slaves, but most of it dealt with what slaves could and could not do.

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Chapter 10, Section 4: Society and Culture in Royal Georgia

Essential Question:• How did society and culture

change in Georgia under the Royal Governors?

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ReligionOrganized religion also grew under royal

rule:• The Church of England (Anglican) became

Georgia’s “official” church.• Lutherans, Puritans, Presbyterians, Jews, and

Baptists also present in Georgia.• Many churches served both blacks and

whites.

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EducationGetting an education in colonial Georgia

remained limited but did improve during the royal period:• School masters sometimes taught for a fee.• Many ministers, merchants and planters were

educated.Merchants and planters sometimes sent their

sons to other colonies or England for an education.

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Results of Royal RuleBy the end of the royal period, although

not as strong or prosperous as the older colonies, Georgia had become more like the others.

Georgia economically prospered under royal rule

Idealism of the trustees (hopes for equality) was replaced by the reality of slavery and inequality of social classes

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Trustee Colony1732 - 1752

Savannah R. , Altamaha R., Pacific Ocean (per the

charter)

Board of Trustees Ruled Colony

Land Ownership Restricted to 50 acres, plus a town lot for colonists on charity; 500 acre limit for others; women

couldn’t inherit land

Slavery Prohibited until 1750

Royal Colony1752 - 1776

1763: Savannah R., St. Marys R., Mississippi R.

King Ruled Colony with Royal Governor, Council, and House

of Assembly

Limits on Land Ownership Removed. Land distributed

under headright system (Family = 100 acres + 50 acres for each additional member,

servant, or slave)

Slavery Allowed

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