CHAPTER 7:LIFE OF PEOPLE IN COLONIAL GEORGIATrinity Christian School

Mrs. Stephanie Holland

REGIONAL DIFFERENCESNew England

ColoniesMiddle Atlantic

ColoniesSouthern Colonies

NH, RI, MA, CT

Agriculture limited by short growing season, cold climate, & rocky land

Small farms, family cropsLow demand for slaves(household servants, laborers, skilled (&un) workers

Fishing industry, sea trade, shipbuilding, blacksmiths, coopers, furniture makers

Most urbanized region

Schools in place by 1671

Most founded for religious reasons

NY, NJ, DE, PA

Temperate climate, longer growing season, rolling land and fertile soil = crop variety: what, oats, corn (surplus)

Colonists more interested in slave labor

Rich iron ore & mineral deposits = mining industry

Abundant forest land = timber industry

Combination of small towns, rural farms and cities

No requirements for public schools – education left to tutors & church schools

English, German, Dutch, Scots-Irish

VA, MD, NC, SC, GA

Warm climate, rich soil, vast coastal plain = agrarian economy (agricultural)

Small farms (subsistence) & Plantations (subsistence & Cash Crops)

VA & MD: tobaccoColonists lived inland

SC & GA: Rice & IndigoColonists lived near the coast

Dependence on cheap (slave) labor developed

Few towns and cities

Few schools and educational requirements – parent funded

English, African, Scots-Irish

Georgia’s Main Export: Rice http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/story/georgia

s_major_export_rice

LIFE IN GEORGIA

Wilderness of Summer Heat & Insects Strange Animals: Alligator, cougar, opossum,

buffalo, raccoon, & rattlesnake Development of an agrarian culture: small

communities, far apart, hard work with the goal of survival

THE EBENEZER COMMUNITY

1734: Austrian Salzburgers arrive in Savannah Lutheran Protestants religiously persecuted at

home Came to Georgia on charity

Settled Ebenezer (25 miles upriver from Savannah) Ebenezer was laid out by Oglethorpe, who sent

workers from Savannah to clear the land Problems: too far from river, swampy land, poor soil

1736: New Ebenezer was est. where the Savannah River and Ebenezer creek converged

EBENEZER, CONT’D

Disease & hardship plaque the Salzburgers 1737: An orphanage was est. for children who

lost their parents Minister: John Martin Boltzius Strict Church Regulations:

Citizens worked according to a set plan Worker’s labor supported the church and

orphanage No hard liquor No dancing No gambling No frivolous activity Those who “misbehaved” were punished

SALZBURGERS

EBENEZER

EARLY EBENEZER

This sketch of the early Ebenezer settlement was drawn in 1736 by Philip Georg Friedrich von Reck. That same year the Salzburger settlement moved to a location closer to the Savannah River, where conditions were better for farming.

NEW EBENEZER

German artist Philip Georg Friedrich von Reck drew a map of New Ebenezer during his visit to the settlement in 1736. New Ebenezer, located on the bluffs above the Savannah River, was the second settlement established by the Georgia Salzburgers, a group of Protestants expelled from the Catholic province of Salzburg in 1731.

JOHN MARTIN BOLTZIUS

Lutheran minister Johann Martin Boltzius, along with religious refugees from Salzburger, founded the settlement of Ebenezer near Savannah in the early 1730s as a religious utopia. Boltzius hoped to create a successful economic system that was not dependent upon slavery.

SALZBURGERS

Products: lumber, rice, beef, pork Led all other colonies in silk Grew the first cotton in Georgia

Though it took a while, the Salzburgers began to assimilate with other colonists as they learned English.

Ebenzer: The Stone of Help http://

www.gpb.org/georgiastories/story/stone_of_help

JOHN ADAMS TREUTLEN

John Treutlen was a leader in Georgia during the American Revolution and helped to write Georgia's first constitution. In 1777 he became Georgia's first elected governor.

AFRICANS COME TO AMERICA

Juan Canaries: free black member on Colombus’ first voyage in 1492

Africans lived in Spain from at least 700 A.D., when Islamic forces invaded Spain

Spanish & other European countries participated in a slave trade with Africa.

The definition/organization of slavery varied from region to region.

AFRICANS IN SPAIN

THE SLAVE TRADE

SLAVERY -

Slave: one who lost their freedom and were forced to work for another person who “owned” them; Time limit varied Lifetime Condition Temporary Condition

Slavery in Spain Slaves could purchase their freedom Household servants, skilled workers, laborers,

crew members

AFRICANS ACCOMPANY SPANISH EXPLORERS

1st Africans to North America accompany Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon in 1526

SLAVERY IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES

1619: Dutch Captain stops in VA with 20 African slaves on board his ship, which he trades for provisions. The slaves are Christian, and English Law (then)

did not allow Christians to be sold as slaves – so they became servants.

Colonists hunger for more slaves

HOW DID SLAVERY BECOME LEGAL IN AMERICA?

1640: VA judge sentenced a runaway indentured servant to life enslavement

1662: Law provided that a baby born in VA should have the status (free or slave) of its mother

1705: VA law designates that slaves can be inherited as part of one’s estate

Need for CHEAP LABOR: plantations, clearing land, settling towns, etc.

Indentured Servants: immigrants (poor, young, white) who agreed to work as servants for anyone paying their way to the colonies Indenture: Contract; required 4-7 years of work,

after which the servant was free Problems: (1) Indentured servants refused to

complete certain jobs, (2) they often ran away.

A preference for slavery developed.

WHY AFRICAN SLAVES?

Runaway slaves were easily identified by their skin color.

1672: England chartered the Royal African Company to supply slaves from Africa to North America & the West Indies. English traders shipped English goods (rum) to the Africa

to exchange for slaves. Slaves were shipped to the Caribbean & sold to sugarcane

plantation owners in return for sugar and molasses Sugar & molasses was shipped back to England or to the

American colonies. Money from the sale of sugar and molasses in America was

used to purchase tobacco, rice, indigo, fish, timber, tar, animal skins & other raw materials for shipment to England.

SLAVE HOLDAFRICANS CAPTURED TO BE SOLD INTO SLAVERY CROSSED THE ATLANTIC OCEAN LYING PRESSED TOGETHER IN CROWDED SHIPS' HOLDS. THE CITY OF SAVANNAH SERVED AS A MAJOR PORT FOR THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE FROM 1750, WHEN THE GEORGIA COLONY REPEALED ITS BAN ON SLAVERY, UNTIL 1798, WHEN THE STATE OUTLAWED THE IMPORTATION OF SLAVES.

TRIANGULAR TRADE

New England Rum was sold directly to Africa for payment in newly captured slaves.

Slaves were taken to the West Indies and sold to sugarcane planters.

Money from the sale of slaves was used to purchase a cargo of sugar and molasses that was taken and sold to New England distilleries to be used in making more rum.

WHERE DID SLAVES END UP? 1700s:

400,000 (6%) American Colonies 3,600,000 Brazil 1,700,000 West Indies 1,600,000 French Colonies 1,500,000 Mexico

9/10 worked in the sugar plantations or mines of South America, the Caribbean or Mexico

1800s 20 millions slaves capture from W. Africa (Senegal,

Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and Angola) had been shipped to the Americas.

POLLY MANIFEST SLAVE SHIP MANIFEST OF THE SCHOONER POLLY, MASTERED BY JOSHUA SMITH. THE POLLY DEPARTED GAMBIA WITH FORTY SLAVES AND ARRIVED IN SAVANNAH ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1796. THE MANIFEST LISTS THE NUMBER OF SLAVES ON THE VESSEL, THE CONSIGNOR, THE DESTINATION, AND THE SHIPPER. THE POLLY ALSO CARRIED TEN GALLONS OF RUM.

SUGARCANE

SLAVERY IN GEORGIA: THE SAVANNAH PETITION

Trustees were anti-slavery!

December 1738: the “Malcontents” petition the Trustees to allow slavery. Georgia could never raise enough products for

export without help. Georgia needed to compete with NC and SC,

which allowed slavery. African slaves were better suited to work in the

Georgia climate, especially in the rice industry.

OBJECTIONS TO SLAVERY

Jan 1739: Scots-Irish @ Darien: having slaves would take away the white workers will to work hard. “It is shocking to human nature, that any race of mankind…

should be sentenced to perpetual slavery; … freedom to them must be as dear as to us.”

Salzburgers: the idea that white workers couldn’t raise rice was ridiculous – they’d done it!

WHAT WAS THE “VERDICT”?

Some planters “rented” slaves from the Carolinas, or sneaked them in.

1750: Trustees give in. 1,000 slaves brought to GA in 1752. Opponents of slavery came to accept it.

Even the Salzburgers!

1773: 15,000 blacks vs. 18,000 whites

SLAVE CODES

Slave Codes: laws that governed the behavior of slaves.

Passed by the Colonial Assembly in 1755 and 1770.

Offered protection for the slaves in some cases.

Main intent: to ensure that slaves were kept in their place.

Woodcut from 1839 Anti-Slavery Almanac A woodcut depicts the capture of a fugitive slave by

a slave patrol. Slave Patrols were common in Georgia from 1757 until the end of the Civil War in 1865.

SLAVE CODES (1770)

The offspring of slaves were to remain absolute slaves and the personal property of their owners.

Any person employing a slave on the Lord’s Day (Sunday) except in work of absolute necessity, must forfeit 10 shillings.

Anyone teaching a slave to read or write would forfeit 20 pounds.

SLAVE CODES (1770) CONT’D

If a slave struck a white person, the slave would suffer after trial and conviction any punishment the justice though fit, not extending to life or limb. For the second offense, the punishment was death.

Slaves could not travel outside the town or plantation without a ticket signed by a responsible person. If a slave was found without a ticket or not in the company of a white person, punishment was whipping on the bare back not exceeding 20 lashes.

Georgia’s African Heritage: http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/story/georgias_af

rican_heritage

GEORGIA SOCIETY & CULTURE

To begin with Georgia colonists experienced a simple life of equality among “common folk”

1773: GA is a colony of 33,000 people 50% black slaves

Colonist who own slaves begin to prosper Sir James Wright (1st Royal Governor) owned 11

plantations 26,000 acres of land and 525 slaves

GEORGIA SOCIETY & CULTURE: LIFE IN SAVANNAH

1773: Savannah a busy British seaport Colonists have help of hired laborers,

indentured servants or slaves Specialists Available: shoemakers, tailors,

cabinetmakers, coopers, blacksmiths, gunsmiths, masons, saddlers, wheelwrights, sailmakers, mechanics and artists

Trained Professionals Available: lawyers, doctors, clergymen & teachers

SAVANNAH’S SOCIAL LADDER

Position depended on ability and ambition. Little opportunity for women. – position was

tied to husband’s position. Except for a few freedmen, blacks occupied

the lowest part.

“Step” of Ladder Voice in Gov’t Social Activities

Plantation Owners & Merchants

Provided most of the colony’s leaders

Public Celebrations: military ceremonies, weddings,

funerals

Celebration of the King’s Birthday

Picnics & dances

Social Fraternities (males)

Taverns/Public Houses – Meetings

Reading – Booksellers; 1763 Georgia

Gazette

LIFE IN THE COLONY OF GEORGIA:LIFE IN THE BACKCOUNTRY Where Georgia was really growing in the 1760s! Steady growth in Augusta

1736: Indian Trading Post Gateway to the backcountry The unofficial capital of Georgia’s frontier

Backcountry settlers lived simple, rugged, rowdy lives self-sufficient; relied on their own skills to survived Did not like government interference in their lives Primarily small-scale farmers:

Posessions: simple tools, guns, spinning wheel, kitchen items Males: cleared land, tended crops, building maintenance, hunting Females: tended gardens, cared for children, prepared meals,

sewed Recreation: shooting matches, horse races,

“work gatherings”: barn-raisings, corn shuckings & quilting bees

LIFE IN THE COLONY OF GEORGIA:EDUCATION

No government established school system Children were primarily taught by their

parents Boys – learned farming skills Girls – learned household management skills Orphans were “bound out” for families to teach

Sporadically, schools were est. Bethseda Orphan House: THE school that lasted Schoolmasters: clergymen Subjects: Reading, writing, arithmetic &

RELIGION Larger Plantations hired tutors. Most GA children NEVER went to school.

LIFE IN THE COLONY OF GEORGIA:RELIGION UNDER THE TRUSTEES Trustees sent Bibles, prayer books, & other religious works Anglican Church raised money for GA Other religious were welcome

NO Catholics (They settled after the American Revolution) Jewish Families: 1733 Dr.Samuel Nunes; Abraham DeLyon Georgia’s Oldest Congregation: http://

www.gpb.org/georgiastories/story/stone_of_help

Anglican Clergymen Arrive: minister to the colonists and convert the Indians John Wesley: led “Sunday Schools” ; founder of Methodism Charles Wesley: Oglethorpe’s Secretary George Whitfield: est. Bethseda Orphan House

JOHN WESLEY

1735: Appointed Anglican Rector of GA 1736: Travels with his brother, John, from England to

the GA Colony 1737: Returns to England 1784: Founded Methodism in England

CHARLES WESLEY

Brother of John Wesley Secretary to General Oglethorpe Chaplain at Fort Frederica One of the founders of Methodism

“AN ELEGIAC POEM, ON THE DEATH OF THAT CELEBRATED DIVINE AND EMINENT SERVANT OF JESUS

CHRIST, THE LATE REVEREND, AND PIOUS GEORGE WHITFIELD”

  Hail, happy Saint, on thy immortal throne! To thee complaints of grievance are unknown; We hear no more the music of thy tongue, Thy wonted auditories cease to throng. Thy lessons in unequal'd accents flow'd! While emulation in each bosom glow'd; Thou didst, in strains of eloquence refin'd, Inflame the soul, and captivate the mind. Unhappy we, the setting Sun deplore! Which once was splendid, but it shines no more; He leaves this earth for Heav'n's unmeasur'd height, And worlds unknown, receive him from our sight; There WHITEFIELD wings, with rapid course his way, And sails to Zion, through vast seas of day.     When his AMERICANS were burden'd sore, When streets were crimson'd with their guiltless gore! Unrival'd friendship in his breast now strove: The fruit thereof was charity and love. Towards America – couldst thou do more Than leave thy native home, the British shore, To cross the great Atlantic's wat'ry road, To see America's distress'd abode? Thy prayers, great Saint, and thy incessant cries, Have pierc'd the bosom of thy native skies! Thou moon hast seen, and ye bright stars of light Have witness been of his requests by night! He pray'd that grace in every heart might dwell: He long'd to see America excell; He charg'd its youth to let the grace divine Arise, and in their future actions shine; He offer'd THAT he did himself receive, A greater gift not GOD himself can give: He urg'd the need of HIM to every one; It was no less than GOD's co-equal SON! Take HIM ye wretched for your only good; Take HIM ye starving souls to be your food. Ye thirsty, come to his life giving stream: Ye Preachers, take him for your joyful theme: Take HIM, "my dear AMERICANS," he said, Be your complaints in his kind bosom laid: Take HIM ye Africans, he longs for you; Impartial SAVIOUR, is his title due; If you will chuse to walk in grace's road,

RELIGION UNDER ROYAL RULE

Royal Governor was required to see that the Sabbath was observed.

1758: Church of England was made the colony’s official church Georgians were taxed to support the COE, but

worshipped as they chose

At the end of the colonial period, a number of religious groups had churches in Savannah

Religion varied elsewhere in GA: Ebenezer: the Church was THE center of life Backcountry: Religion barely existed

GEORGE WHITFIELDhttp://www.bethesdahomeforboys.org/

•One of the most famous figures before George Washington!

•Ben Franklin supported Bethseda – only hefelt that it should be located in PA!

"The poor little ones were tabled out here and there, and besides the hurt

they received by bad examples, forgot at home what they learned at school.  Others were at hard service and likely to have no education at all.  Upon seeing this I thought I could not better show my regard

to God and my country than by getting a house and land for these children where they might learn to labor, read, and write, and at

the same time be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the

Lord."

"Bethesda" means "House of Mercy"  

BETHESDA HOME FOR BOYS, 17401361 PH GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION, BOX 7, FOLDER 12, ITEM 1303

http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/story/georgias_oldest_business

http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/story/savannah_under_attack

http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/story/big_question http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/story/big_question