James Oglethorpe's Followers in Georgia

Definition

James Oglethorpe's followers in Georgia were a group of settlers who established the colony of Georgia in 1733 under his leadership. This colony was unique as it was founded as a refuge for debtors and the poor, contrasting sharply with other colonies that relied heavily on slave labor and plantation economies. Oglethorpe's vision included a society based on small farms and moral reform, yet this vision would eventually clash with the growing demand for labor-intensive agriculture, leading to a significant reliance on slavery.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Oglethorpe aimed to create a colony that provided a new beginning for impoverished debtors and others facing hardship in England.
2. The initial ban on slavery in Georgia was part of Oglethorpe's vision of a morally upright society, but this ban was lifted by 1750 due to economic pressures.
3. James Oglethorpe was instrumental in the establishment of Savannah, which became the first city in Georgia and reflected his plans for orderly urban design.
4. The colony of Georgia served as a buffer zone between British South Carolina and Spanish Florida, playing a strategic military role during colonial conflicts.
5. As Georgia transitioned into a plantation economy, the reliance on enslaved labor grew, which contradicted Oglethorpe’s original ideals about the colony.

Review Questions

• How did James Oglethorpe's vision for Georgia differ from the existing colonies regarding labor and social structure?
  • Oglethorpe envisioned Georgia as a colony that would offer a fresh start for debtors and focus on small-scale farming, avoiding the reliance on slavery that characterized other southern colonies. He believed that creating a community based on moral reform and hard work would lead to a more equitable society. This idealistic approach ultimately faced challenges as economic realities forced the colony to adapt and embrace plantation-style agriculture reliant on enslaved labor.
• Discuss the impact of lifting the ban on slavery in Georgia in 1750 and how it reflected changes in the colony's economic needs.
  • Lifting the ban on slavery in 1750 marked a significant turning point for Georgia, transitioning it from Oglethorpe's utopian vision towards a more traditional plantation economy. As the demand for labor-intensive crops like rice and indigo increased, the need for enslaved workers became undeniable. This shift illustrated how economic pressures could override initial social ideals, ultimately aligning Georgia more closely with other southern colonies that thrived on slavery.
• Evaluate the long-term consequences of James Oglethorpe's settlement policies in Georgia on the development of slavery in the southern colonies.
  • James Oglethorpe's initial anti-slavery stance and emphasis on moral society were quickly undermined as Georgia's economy shifted towards agriculture that required large amounts of labor. The eventual acceptance of slavery not only aligned Georgia with its southern neighbors but also contributed to the entrenchment of racial slavery throughout the region. This transformation had lasting repercussions, as it laid the groundwork for economic systems that would become integral to the southern way of life and eventually lead to deep social divides and conflicts over slavery in America.

Related terms

Debtors' Prison: A place where individuals unable to pay their debts were incarcerated, often leading to their eventual transportation to colonies like Georgia for a fresh start.

Plantation Economy: An economic system prevalent in the southern colonies, based on large-scale agricultural production, which heavily relied on slave labor.

Trusteeship: The system by which Oglethorpe and other trustees governed Georgia, aiming to create a utopian society free from the vices of slavery and excessive landholding.