Final answer:
The Salzburgers opposed slavery on religious grounds, whereas the Malcontents wanted the ban lifted for economic growth. These conflicting views reveal the varied reasons behind the support and opposition to slavery during Georgia's Trustee period, which ultimately saw a shift towards plantation economy after the ban was lifted.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences between the Salzburgers and the Malcontents during Georgia's Trustee period revolved primarily around their stances on slavery. The Malcontents, mainly consisting of colonists dissatisfied with the Trustees' prohibitions, pushed hard to have the ban on slavery lifted. They believed that the prohibition of slavery was hindering economic growth and limiting their ability to compete with neighboring colonies that utilized slave labor. On the other hand, the Salzburgers, who were Protestant immigrants from Salzburg, opposed the legalization of slavery on religious grounds, showing that not all opposition to the Trustees' prohibitions were for economic reasons.
This demonstrates the complexities of the social and moral landscape in early Georgia, where economic, religious, and geopolitical factors converged. Georgia's government moved away from a charity model designed for the poor to one that catered more to wealthier individuals looking to form plantations. The initial ban on slavery was intended to promote smallholder farming and ensure Georgia's role as a military buffer against Spanish Florida but was eventually overturned partly due to the Malcontents' influence.