James Oglethorpe

James Oglethorpe

The Birth of the Cotton Industry

James Oglethorpe was a wealthy British aristocrat, military officer, and member of Parliament who hoped to establish a colony in the New World for English debtors who were crowded into squalid prisons. In the end, few debtors ended in Georgia, but rather, European-born immigrants well-suited to the backbreaking work required to build and sustain a successful colony. Oglethorpe envision a society of farmers who would thrive in the agrarian environment and protect the colony from both the Spanish and Native Americans. It was here, where America's booming cotton industry was born. The colony's charter extended religious freedom to all settlers other than Roman Catholics. Oglethorpe and colonists first settled near present-day Savannah in late 1732.

Slavery in Georgia

Because Oglethorpe's original plan included the division of land parcels into manageable, family-run, 50-acre lots, slavery was initially banned in the colony. As the cotton industry grew in Georgia, however, the ban on slavery was lifted, becoming an integral part of the Georgia economic engine for the next 130 years.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why did James Oglethorpe want to start a colony in Georgia?
  2. Who ended up settling in Georgia if it wasn’t mostly debtors?
  3. How did Georgia’s policy on slavery change over time?
  4. Why did cotton farming lead to the growth of slavery in Georgia?

The Birth of the Cotton Industry

James Oglethorpe was a wealthy British leader who wanted to create a colony in America for people who owed money and were in prison. In the end, few debtors came to Georgia. Instead, hard-working immigrants from Europe helped build the colony. Oglethorpe hoped these settlers would become farmers and protect the land. Georgia is where the cotton industry in America began. The colony allowed people to practice different religions, except for Roman Catholics. Oglethorpe and the settlers arrived near present-day Savannah in 1732.

Slavery in Georgia

At first, Oglethorpe gave each family a small 50-acre farm to work themselves, so slavery was not allowed. But as cotton farming became more important, Georgia changed its rules. The ban on slavery was lifted, and slavery became a major part of Georgia's economy for over 100 years.

James Oglethorpe Activities