The Salzburgers, Jews, and Highland Scots played significant roles in the Georgia Trustee Colony by setting up industries, providing labor, and promoting cultural and religious diversity. The Salzburgers' establishment of the silk industry and the Jews' establishment of one of the oldest congregations in the U.S. are significant highlights.
The Salzburgers, Highland Scots, and Jews each contributed significantly to the development of the Georgia Trustee Colony. The Salzburgers, German-speaking Lutherans expelled from modern Austria, settled the town of New Ebenezer, set up the first gristmills and sawmills in the colony, and were the only Georgians to make a significant effort to raise silkworms and produce silk.
When Jews arrived in Georgia in 1733, James Oglethorpe allowed them to stay despite the Trustees' objections. This led to Savannah becoming the home of one of the oldest Jewish congregations in present-day United States.
These groups brought a spirit of enterprise and development, contributing significantly to the growth and economic strength of colonial Georgia.
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