In 1752, Georgia's Trustees gave their charter back to king George II. Georgia became a royal colony, under the direct rule of the king of England.
Without the strict rules of the Trustees, Georgia began to quickly prosper. Savannah, the capital of colonial Georgia, became a busy port city and the residents became extremely wealthy.
Under royal control, the Georgia colonists were permitted to own land and own slaves.
Large plantations were built along the fertile rivers and farmers became wealthy. They raised:
-rice, silk, indigo, corn, peas, wheat, rye, and Tobacco.
Wealthy merchants in Savannah became important exporters of goods to England.
Unfortunately, the backbone of Georgia's agricultural economy was slave labor.
Georgia's Growing Economy
Georgia's colonial economy was primarily agricultural, supported by slavery, with wealthy merchants and trade conducted in the port city and capital of Savannah.
In the colonial days, Georgia's economy was strongly supported by TRADE. Wealthy merchants and craftsmen in Savannah traded with England and with other colonies. Trade was also conducted extensively with the Indians.
Georgia's Royal Governers
Captain John Reynolds (1754 - 1756)
Georgia's 1st royal Governer
A former naval officer, Reynolds was stern and ruled very strictly.
Extremely unpopular and confrontational, the king replaced Reynolds after only 3 years.
Henry Ellis (1754 - 1756)
An explorer prior to being Governer.
Genuinely concerned about Georgia, he taught colonists about self - government, budgets, and defense.
Popular with the legislature, Indians, and the colonists.
Old and stickly, Ellis had to resign his office due to the extreme heat and humidity and poor health.
Sir James Wright (1760 - 1776)
The most popular and successful of all of Georgia's royal Governers.
Built a good relationship with the colonial legislature, negotiated treaties with the Indians, and opened millions of acres of settlement.
Under James Wright, Georgia prospered and grew faster than any other colony.