Final answer:
James Oglethorpe defended Georgia against an invasion by Spain in 1742, as part of the conflict known as the War of Jenkins' Ear. Georgia served as a buffer state and maintained British interests in the face of Spanish threats from Florida. The correct option is 3.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1742, James Oglethorpe helped defend Georgia from an invasion by Spain. This invasion was part of broader colonial conflicts including the War of Jenkins' Ear and King George's War, known in Europe as the War of Austrian Succession.
Georgia, having been founded as the last of the original thirteen colonies, functioned as a military buffer zone to protect British interests from Spanish Florida. The construction of forts, such as Fort Frederica, and the recruitment of colonists as a militia force were central to this defense strategy.
Despite initial successes and setbacks, the invasion by the Spanish led to skirmishes which the British forces, led by Oglethorpe, won, thus maintaining control over Georgia.
These events highlighted the strategic importance of Georgia in the British imperial scheme and affirmed its role as a buffer state between British settlements and Spanish territories. The correct option is 3.