Eighth Grade Georgia Economic History

Interpreting Georgia’s Charter of 1732 Worksheet, page 1

This handout provides you with some of the most important information taken from Georgia’s original charter (in italics). Read each question and use a highlighter to mark the correct answers found within each section.

1. Who granted the Charter of 1732 to the Trustees?

GEORGE the second, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, king, defender of the faith, and so forth. To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting.

2. Why was Georgia founded?

Economic Reasons

…strengthen our colonies and increase the trade, navigation and wealth of these our realms.

Defense of South Carolina

…And whereas our provinces in North America, have been frequently ravaged by Indian enemies, more especially that of South-Carolina, which in the late War, by the neighboring savages, was laid waste with fire and sword and great numbers of English inhabitants, miserably massacred, and our loving subjects who now inhabit them, by reason of the smallness of their numbers, will in case of a new war…and whereas we think it highly becoming our crown and royal dignity, to protect all our loving subjects, be they ever so distant from us;

Charity Reasons

...to extend our fatherly compassion even to the meanest and most unfortunate of our people…and that it will be highly conducive for accomplishing those ends, that a regular colony of the said poor people be settled and established in the southern territories of Carolina.

3. Could the trustees receive any financial benefits?

…or under the common council of the said corporation-such member shall from the time of his having, holding, exercising, accepting possessing and enjoying such office, place and employment of profit, cease to be a member of the said corporation.

4. Could the trustees create rules and regulations?

…full power and authority to constitute, ordain and make, such and so many by-laws, constitutions, orders and ordinances, as to them, or the greater part of them, at their general meeting for that purpose, shall seem necessary and convenient for the well ordaining and governing of the said corporation.

Interpreting Georgia’s Charter of 1732 Worksheet, page 2

5. What was the land area given to the Colony of Georgia? Make sure to draw the borders on the map below.

…the whole in eight equal parts to be divided, of all those lands, countrys and territories, situate, lying and being in that part of South-Carolina, in America, which lies from the most northern part of a stream or river there, commonly called the Savannah, all along the sea coast to the southward, unto the most southern stream of a certain other great water or river called the Alatamaha, and westerly from the heads of the said rivers respectively, in direct lines to the south seas; and all that share, circuit and precinct of land, within the said boundaries, with the islands on the sea, lying opposite to the eastern coast of the said lands.

6. How long was the trustees’ term of office?

…that for and during the term of twenty-one years…

7. What were some of the incentives that colonist received from Great Britain?

…with sufficient shipping, armour, weapons, powder, shot, ordnance, munition, victuals, merchandise and wares,as are esteemed by the wild people; clothing, implements, furniture, cattle, horses, mares, and all other-things necessary for the said colony, and for the use and defence and trade with the people there, and in passing and returning to and from the same.

8. What was the largest amount of land that a Georgia colonist could receive?

…provided also, that no greater quantity of lands be granted, either entirely or in parcels, to or for the use, or in trust for any one person, than five hundred acres.

Lesson 2

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