Final answer:
The Georgia colonists turned to tobacco cultivation due to the unsuitability of the coastal soil for luxury goods and the proven profitability of tobacco in neighboring colonies like Virginia. The high demand for tobacco in Europe and the headright policy that incentivized settlers to work the land further solidified tobacco's role in the colony's economy during the royal period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Georgia colonists initially aimed to cultivate luxury goods but encountered several challenges that made this impractical. The coastal soil was not suitable for certain types of agriculture such as wine production and silk farming. Consequently, Georgia colonists, much like their Virginian counterparts, turned to tobacco cultivation during the royal period. Tobacco had already proven itself as a highly profitable cash crop in Virginia, with Jamestown exporting tobacco to Europe as early as 1614. It attracted English farmers and traders due to its high demand in Europe, high prices, and the success of the tobacco economy in neighboring colonies.
Tobacco production was labor-intensive and required substantial work to clear the land, care for the plants, cure the leaves, and package the product. Despite King James I's unfavorable opinion of tobacco, criticizing it as a "noxious weed," it continued to be immensely popular in England and other parts of Europe, contributing to the economic stability and growth of the colonies in the New World, including Georgia. The introduction of a headright policy helped draw settlers to the colonies by offering land incentives, which further supported the expansion of tobacco cultivation. The crop played a significant role in Georgia's agricultural development during the royal period.