After Georgia became a royal colony in 1752, several significant changes occurred. Here are some key aspects:
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Governance: Transitioning from a trustee-managed colony to a royal colony meant that Georgia was now under the direct control of the British Crown. This brought about a change in governance structure, where the king appointed a royal governor who had more authority than the previous trustees.
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Land Policy: The royal government relaxed some of the restrictions on land ownership that had been imposed by the Trustees. Under the trustee regime, land ownership was limited to encourage smaller farms and discourage large plantations. As a royal colony, there was no limit on land ownership, which encouraged the establishment of large plantation estates, particularly for rice and indigo cultivation.
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Slavery: The royal colony allowed the institution of slavery, which had been banned by the trustees. This led to an increased importation of enslaved Africans to work on the plantations, significantly altering the demographic and economic landscape of Georgia.
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Economic Growth: With the expansion of plantations and the introduction of slavery, Georgia's economy began to grow more robustly. The colony began to align economically with other Southern colonies, focusing on cash crops for export.
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Settler Population: The royal status attracted more settlers, including those seeking land and economic opportunities. This led to increased conflict with Native American tribes, as expansion into their territories became more pronounced.
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Political Changes: As a royal colony, Georgians gained the right to elect their own assembly, which allowed for greater political participation and local governance. However, the governor still retained significant power.
Overall, the transition to a royal colony marked a shift towards a more economically driven and socially stratified society, laying the groundwork for Georgia's future development in the colonial period.