King George II Takes Control
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A proprietary (or Trustee) colony was a colony
directed by those to whom a charter had been
granted.
Unfortunately, Oglethorpe’s dream was not
fulfilled.
◦ Few debtors reached Georgia
◦ Economy was a failure
◦ People were unhappy with the Trustees’ rules
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Georgia became a royal colony in the year
1752.
A royal colony was a colony directly governed
by the King.
◦ When this happened, people who had left the
proprietary (Trustee) colony moved back, often
bringing slaves with them.
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This new seal is a
symbol of Georgia’s role
in Great Britain’s plan of
mercantilism.
It was hoped that
Georgia would become
a great producer of silk
and other raw materials
for the crown.
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During the Trustee (or proprietary) period,
the trustees believed that the first Georgia
settlers were not able to govern themselves.
◦ The settlers were not given the right to vote, hold
elections, or collect taxes.
This all changes when Georgia
becomes a royal colony.
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Georgia’s first royal governor, Captain John
Reynolds, arrived on October 1, 1754.
◦ Governor Reynolds is appointed by King George II
◦ Unlike the Trustees, Governor Reynolds believed
that the colonists were able to govern themselves
and he wanted the colonists to help run the
government.
◦ Reynolds was greeted in Georgia by cheering
crowds.
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In a proprietary colony, Georgians were
allowed to govern themselves.
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A bicameral, or two chamber, legislature was
set up to represent the eight parishes of the
colony.
◦ A parish was both a church and a British
government district.
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The two chambers of the new government
were called the Commons House of Assembly
and the Governor’s Council.
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As a royal colony, the new Georgia
government created a bicameral legislature (a
two house law making body).
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The lower house was the Commons House of
Assembly.
This house was made up colonists who
wanted to participate in the government, but
they had to own at least 500 acres of land to
do so.
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People are elected to serve in the Commons
House of Assembly.
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The upper house was the Governor’s Council
and these men were appointed by the King of
England. Their 4 main jobs were to:
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Advise the Governor
Approve land grants
Make laws
Act as judges when needed
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People are elected to serve in the Governor’s
Council.
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On January 7, 1755, the General Assembly
(made up of the Commons House of
Assembly and the Governor’s Council) met for
the first time in Savannah, which was
Georgia’s largest city and capital.
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Problems arose between Governor Reynolds
and the colonists about money, and in 1757
he was replaced by Captain Henry Ellis.
◦ Under him, the population of the colony grew to
about 10,000, which included 3,600 slaves.
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Governor Ellis was a popular governor, and,
under his direction, the colony made
economic gains.
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There were more and profitable farms.
There were more merchants with a variety of items
to sell, which meant that the colonists were able to
buy the things they could not grow or manufacture.
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In 1759, Governor Ellis became ill and asked
to go back to Great Britain. He was replaced
by Georgia’s third and final royal governor,
the Honorable James Wright.
◦ He was loyal to the king, but he wanted the
colonists to do well.
◦ He believed that Georgia would continue to grow if:
 Large farms were even bigger
 Trading expanded
 The western lands in Georgia were opened to the
settlers.
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Under Governor Wright
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Defensive palisades constructed around Savannah
Rice and indigo become profitable
Silk production grows
More schools create higher literacy rates
BUT…
Schools were for the wealthy
More people wanted to be involved in government
Undesirable people move into western part of the
colony (nicknamed “Crackers”)
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As a colonist, would you be happier in the
royal colony or in the proprietary (Trustee)
colony? List two reasons why.