key term - Trustee period

Definition

The trustee period refers to the time from 1732 to 1752 when Georgia was established as a colony under a unique system of governance by trustees. This system was set up with the intent to provide a fresh start for debtors and the poor, while also promoting agriculture and defense against Spanish Florida. During this period, the trustees implemented various policies aimed at fostering economic and social development, though they faced challenges such as land restrictions and the absence of slavery.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. During the trustee period, land ownership was limited to prevent wealth concentration and ensure equal distribution among settlers.
2. The trustees banned slavery initially, which created significant challenges for agricultural development, as many settlers wanted to grow cash crops like rice and indigo.
3. Economic activities were initially focused on subsistence farming, but over time, the introduction of new crops began to shift this focus toward cash crops.
4. The trustees established rules that encouraged communal living and cooperation among settlers, which sometimes led to conflicts over personal property rights.
5. After years of facing criticism and pressure from colonists, the trustees ultimately surrendered their charter in 1752, leading to Georgia becoming a royal colony.

Review Questions

• How did the policies implemented during the trustee period shape the early economic landscape of Georgia?
  • The policies of the trustee period significantly influenced Georgia's early economy by promoting subsistence farming while restricting land ownership and prohibiting slavery. These restrictions limited agricultural expansion, but they also encouraged settlers to work together and support one another. Over time, however, as settlers desired greater autonomy and the ability to cultivate cash crops, these initial policies began to create tension between the trustees' intentions and colonists' aspirations.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the trustee system in achieving its goals for Georgia's social development.
  • The trustee system had mixed effectiveness regarding social development in Georgia. It aimed to provide a new life for debtors and promote a cooperative society among settlers. While it did foster a sense of community in some respects, land restrictions and the prohibition of slavery ultimately hindered economic growth and led to dissatisfaction among settlers. As a result, many colonists felt that their personal freedoms were being curtailed, ultimately leading to calls for more liberal governance.
• Critically analyze how the surrendering of the trustee charter impacted Georgia’s transition from a trustee colony to a royal colony.
  • The surrendering of the trustee charter marked a significant transition for Georgia from a trustee colony to a royal colony in 1752. This change allowed for greater autonomy in governance, leading to more lenient policies regarding land ownership and the introduction of slavery. As a royal colony, Georgia could align more closely with other successful colonies by adopting practices that promoted economic prosperity through cash crop agriculture. This shift fundamentally altered both Georgia's economic structure and its social dynamics as it began integrating more fully into the plantation economy prevalent in the South.

Related terms

Georgia Colony: The colony founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe, which served as a buffer between South Carolina and Spanish Florida, and aimed to provide opportunities for debtors and the poor.

Oglethorpe: James Oglethorpe was a British general and philanthropist who played a key role in the founding of the Georgia colony and served as its first governor during the trustee period.

Trustees: A group of twenty-one men appointed by the British government to oversee the establishment and governance of Georgia, with specific responsibilities to ensure the colony's success and adherence to its founding principles.