Question

Why did James Oglethorpe decide to ignore the Charter of 1732's rule that Jews could not settle in Georgia?

A) He believed in religious tolerance and equality for all settlers
B) Oglethorpe personally had close Jewish friends
C) There was a shortage of settlers, and he needed their expertise
D) He was pressured by the British government to allow Jewish settlers

Answer 1

James Oglethorpe allowed Jewish settlers to remain in Georgia, despite the Charter of 1732, to ensure the success and development of the colony.

Step-by-step explanation:

James Oglethorpe decided to ignore the Charter of 1732's rule that Jews could not settle in Georgia largely because of the need for a growing and successful settlement. Upon the arrival of a group of Jews in 1733, Oglethorpe allowed them to stay despite the Trustees' objections. This was in part due to the fact that he saw the benefits that religious refugees from various parts of Europe brought to the colony, as they were part of the initial success and establishment of Savannah. Oglethorpe's vision of Georgia as a place for the English "worthy poor" and his promotion of the colony as a military buffer against Spanish Florida and the native populations made the pragmatic inclusion of diverse settlers, including Jewish immigrants, crucial for the colony's development.