Royal Colony. Beginnings of a Royal Colony Georgia officially became a royal colony when the Trustee period ended in 1752. This meant that the Crown of.

Royal Colony

Beginnings of a Royal Colony

• Georgia officially became a royal colony when the Trustee period ended in 1752.

• This meant that the Crown of England oversaw the control of Georgia.

• Parliament had to pass a charter in order for Georgia to become an official royal colony.

Royal Colony Government• This was how the government was set up:

• Only white males owning at least 50 acres could vote in the Assembly elections.

• Members of the assembly had to own at least 500 acres.• They approved land grants, made laws, and acted as

judges.

Lower House(elected by the people)

Upper House(Assigned by the Gov.)

Royal Governor(Assigned by the King)

Georgia’s Royal Governors• Georgia had 3 Royal Governors during its time

as a Royal Colony.• 1. John Reynolds – proved ineffective and was

kicked out (drama)• 2. Henry Ellis – established a sound foundation

for government but got sick and left (2nd founder of Georgia)

• 3. James Wright – Everyone loved him and during his tenure Royal Georgia enjoyed remarkable growth. (16 yrs)

John Reynolds• Georgia’s first royal governor from 1754

to 1757. • He angered his cabinet and divided the

residents of Georgia. • He was not good at interacting with

Native Americans. Native Americans began attacking settlers and many blamed Reynolds.

• This skill was especially important since his tenure began around the beginning of the French and Indian War.

• The French and Indian War was the North American phase of a war between France and Britain to control land in the colonies, lasting from 1754 to 1763.

• British recalled Reynolds after 2 years.

Henry Ellis• Georgia’s second governor

from 1757 to 1760. • Good at communicating

with the Natives and built a friendship with the Creek’s. He set up a budget and regulated trade with the Native Americans.

• He built a solid foundation for Georgia. Known as the second founder of Georgia.

• He also built forts and tried to abolish slavery.

• By 1760, an ailing Ellis left Georgia and the governor position.

James Wright• Georgia’s third Governor was

James Wright from 1760 to 1776. • In office for 16 years – very

popular. • Had experience with being the

Attorney General in S. C. • That coupled with the benefit of

having seasoned Georgians who served in the assembly, helped Wright develop Georgia during his term.

• Under Wright, many Georgians enjoyed large profits. He made people rich!! They loved him so much – that they helped him escape during the American Revolution.

The First Real World War“The French & Indian War”

• The same year that Georgia got it’s first Royal Governor Great Britain and France went to war over their world empires.

• Because many Indians fought on the side of France, British colonist called the war the “French and Indian War” when it was actually between the “French and British”.

• Great Britain and France were a good match because Great Britain had the greatest navy in the world and France had the best army and experienced military leaders.

War Erupts!!• Read pg. 143 – 144 in the blue book

Treaty of Paris (1763) Land Changes Hands

Impact of French & Indian on Georgia

• Georgia did not fight in the war but benefited from it.

• Treaty of Paris (1763): set Georgia’s western boundary at Mississippian River.

• Proclamation of 1763: set Georgia’s southern boundary to the St. Mary’s River (Because Spain

sided with France at the last minute it lost a portion of its land claims in Florida)

Land Ownership

• The peace settlement of the French and Indian War made much more land available for settlement.

• This increased the size of Georgia. • Georgia now had land all the way south to

the St. Mary’s River, and all the way west to the Mississippi River. (We will talk about this more later…)

Land Grants

• Settlers who came to the colony by way of the Trust’s charity, were limited to 50 acre land grants.

• Those who paid their way could have up to 500 acres of land.

• Those who paid their way were required to have at least one servant or family member for every fifty acres of their grant.

• This rule helped ensure that enough men were available to defend the colony.

Slavery

• During the beginning of Trustee period, Georgia’s state law prohibited slavery.

• However, wealthy colonists who could afford to buy enslaved people, demanded to be allowed to bring them to Georgia.

• In 1750, the trustees who governed Georgia at the time lifted the ban on slavery.

Slave Ships Activity

Slavery

• Between 1750 and 1775, the number of Africans living in slavery increased from 500 to 18,000.

• These Africans had no rights.

• They were not allowed to marry, or live where they wanted, or even learn to read.

Slavery

• They had to work and live in the harsh conditions of the Georgia rice fields.

• Rebellion against slave owners was almost impossible.

• Punishment included beatings, whippings, separation from friends or family, and even death.

End of the Royal Colony

• In 1776, at the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, Georgia declared its independence from the British Crown along with other British colonies.