Question

Many colonists had relatives in Great Britain and did not want to put them in danger. The British king was still paying money to support the colonists. Like many colonists, Georgians were divided on the issues of the Revolutionary War. The colony was reluctant to join the revolution at first because Georgia:

a. Favored independence
b. Was economically stable
c. Had strong political leadership
d. Had loyalist sentiments

Answer 1

Georgia was reluctant to join the American Revolution initially due to strong loyalist sentiments, economic dependence on British subsidies, and the influence of Loyalist regiments and royal governance, all of which aligned the colony more closely with British rule.

Step-by-step explanation:

The colony of Georgia was reluctant to join the revolution at first primarily due to loyalist sentiments. During the Revolutionary War, Georgia had experienced British support both politically and economically. Georgia's history as a colony subsidized by the British government, its receipt of economic aid, and the influence of Loyalist regiments formed after the British captured Savannah, all contributed to hesitance toward revolution. Additionally, the colony's context, including the fact that Georgia was a royal colony with a system of government similar to its sister colonies and ruled by royal governors, further solidified its alignment with Great Britain.

Some Georgians, as in other colonies, may have had their concerns about breaking away from British rule, fearing the consequences of such an act, ranging from economic hardship to loss of societal structure and protection. The reluctance was also fueled by the fear of mob rule and disintegration of the public good that might follow independence, a sentiment shared by some neutralists who desired to avoid the perils of war. Consequently, the answer to the question of why Georgia was reluctant to join the revolution at first is that it had loyalist sentiments.