Final answer:
Georgia's approach to dealing with criminals changed during the antebellum period by opting for penitentiaries over physical punishment and implementing the death penalty for specific crimes.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the antebellum period, Georgia's approach to dealing with criminals underwent several changes.
One significant change was the establishment of penitentiaries as an alternative to physical punishment. Penitentiaries aimed to reform criminals by providing them with opportunities for hard work, religious instruction, and isolation from negative influences.
Additionally, Georgia implemented the death penalty for specific crimes such as murder, treason, piracy, and arson, while also sending petty criminals to penal colonies in British territories like Australia and New Zealand. So, option A, which mentions the adoption of penitentiaries over physical punishment, is the correct choice.