Final answer:
James Oglethorpe founded the colony of Georgia in 1732, bringing with him a mix of small farmers, merchants, and artisans, funded by Parliament. Despite aims for self-sufficiency and luxury trade, these goals failed. The colony also welcomed a diverse population including religious refugees.
Step-by-step explanation:
Founding of Colonial Georgia
Colonial Georgia was founded by James Oglethorpe in 1732. Oglethorpe and a group like-minded Trustees received a charter from King George II, establishing the colony as a military buffer between South Carolina and Spanish Florida. The colony was envisaged as a place for the deserving poor to start a new life, and it was the only government-funded colonial project, with Parliament funding the migration of many settlers.
The colonists comprised of a mixture of individuals including small farmers, merchants, and artisans. The social experiment orchestrated by the Trustees meant that they were forbidden from owning land or holding office in Georgia. Despite the Trustees' hopes, not all settlers were debtors, and many were simply the 'deserving poor'. Some migrated under terms of indentured servitude, further indebting themselves to the Georgia Trust for their passage. Children could be bound for even longer terms of service.
The initial goals for the Georgia colony included becoming self-sufficient and producing luxury items like wine and silk. Unfortunately, these industries did not succeed as anticipated. Additionally, Oglethorpe and the Trustee system also attempted to impose regulations, such as banning hard alcohol and outlawing slavery, though these restrictions did not last. Savannah was founded in 1733 shortly after the colonists arrived, and a diverse population of religious refugees and a Jewish congregation settled there, contributing to the early colonial life.