GA Studies - Unit 3 Vocab Words

Buffer Colony

one of three reasons for Georgia's founding; colony was to serve as a defensive buffer between Spanish Florida and the successful English colony of South Carolina.

Philanthropy

one of the three reasons for Georgia's founding. James Oglethorpe and the trustees hoped to bring debtors and England's "worthy poor" to the colony to begin new lives. However, no debtor was ever released from debtors' prison to come to Georgia. At one time, the term charity was used.

Charter of 1732

the document that formally established the colony of Georgia; outlines the reasons for Georgia's founding and the regulations set up by the trustees.

Debtor

someone who owed more money to creditors than they had. In 18th Century England, creditors could have those who owed them money that could not pay it back immediately placed in debtor's prisons. James Oglethorpe had a friend who died in a debtors' prison and fought for prison reform in England.

Economics

one of the three reasons for Georgia's founding. The English hoped that Georgia would be able to produce wine, rice, silk, and indigo.

Highland Scots

from the Highlands of Scotland and known as some of the best fighters in Europe in the 1700's. James Oglethorpe brought a group to Georgia to serve as soldiers for the colony. The Highland Scots founded the town of Darren.

Malcontents

a group of colonists who complained about the trustee regulations for the Georgia colony; primary complaint was the ban on slavery and rum. Eventually the malcontents got their way as liquor and slavery were allowed in Georgia in the 1750s.

Indigo

a plant used to produce a blue dye; a cash crop.

Silk Industry

an industry encouraged by the Trustees to support mercantilism; colonists planted mulberry trees to support the silkworms; the silk industry never developed into a profitable venture.

Mary Musgrove

(1700-1763)- Creek Indian woman who served as the translator for James Oglethorpe and Yamacraw Chief Tomochichi.

James Oglethorpe

1696-1785)- one of the 21 members of the trustees who established Georgia; only trustee to come to the colony and served as the de facto military and governmental leader of the colony.

Royal period (colony)

the royal period in Georgia beginning in 1752 after the trustees gave authority of the colony to the king. The royal period lasted until the Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution in 1783. Georgia had three royal governors appointed by the King. They were John Reynolds, Henry Ellis, and James Wright.

Royal Governor

Governor appointed by the English Monarch to run a colony. Georgia had three royal governors appointed by the King. They were John Reynolds, Henry Ellis, and James Wright.

Savannah

The first capital of Georgia; founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe

Tomochichi

was the Chief of the Yamacraw Indians. Tomochichi befriended James Oglethorpe and allowed him to establish the colony of Georgia on Yamacraw territory.

Trustee

An individual or organization which holds or manages and invests assets for the benefit of another. A group of 21 men who established the colony of Georgia. Of the group, only one, James Oglethorpe, came to the colony.

Trustee period

1732-1751)- the time period when Georgia was governed by the trustees. The trustees created many regulations during the time period, including a ban on slavery, liquor and liquor dealers, lawyers, and Catholics.

Salzburgers

a group of Protestants from Austria who were invited to settle in Georgia due to religious persecution they were experiencing in Europe; established the towns of Ebenezer and New Ebenezer; were some of the most successful colonists.

De Soto, Hernando

(1496-1542)- Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition through the Southeastern United States; credited as being the first European in Georgia.

Mercantilism

An economic policy under which nations sought to increase their wealth and power by obtaining large amounts of gold and silver and by selling more goods than they bought

Battle of Bloody Marsh

Victory for Oglethorpe over the Spanish on St. Simons Island in 1742

War of Jenkin's Ear

Land squabble between Britain and Spain over Georgia and trading rights. Battles took place in the Caribbean and on the Florida/Georgia border. The name comes from a British captain named Jenkins, whose ear was cut off by the Spanish.

Royal Colony

A colony controlled directly by the English king

Spanish Missions

Located on Georgia's barrier islands established to convert Native Americans to Christianity Located near Native American village centers (where the most people were) required Native Americans to provide labor to the Spanish

Yamacraw Bluff

location of Oglethorpe's settlement; became Savannah

Jews

Were originally forbidden to settle in Georgia, but an exception was made after the need for a doctor and wine-maker arose in the colony