General James Oglethorpe sought to stop the Spanish and was sympathetic to the prisoners in England.
In order to stop the Spanish Oglethorpe suggested a buffer colony be created. In addition, Oglethorpe wanted to establish a colony for England's unemployed poor. In 1732, Parliament provided a charter to twenty-one trustees. They were given land between the Altamaha and Savannah rivers and then extending inward to the western sea. Parliament ordered the land be held in trust for twenty-one years and then be returned to the crown. Settlements in Georgia were suppose to resemble armed camps with the colonist able to use their weapons as willingly as their farm tools. In the beginning, slavery was prohibited and careful control remained over property.
Oglethorpe and the trustees envisioned Georgia as a reform colony for rehabilitating people who had been victimized by England's justice system. Unfortunately, very few people traveled to Georgia and the one's that did, did not remain there. In order to keep colonist in Georgia, the ban against slavery was lifted and inheritance laws were modified.
Oglethorpe and the trustees envisioned Georgia as a reform colony for rehabilitating people who had been victimized by England's justice system. Unfortunately, very few people traveled to Georgia and the one's that did, did not remain there. In order to keep colonist in Georgia, the ban against slavery was lifted and inheritance laws were modified.