The Malcontents were a group of early settlers in colonial Georgia who expressed dissatisfaction with the colonial government's policies, particularly regarding land ownership and restrictions on slavery. They were primarily composed of people from England and were among the early colonists who arrived in the 1730s.
While many of the initial settlers of Georgia received assistance in the form of free passage and land grants, the Malcontents were often frustrated by the limitations imposed by the colony's founder, James Oglethorpe, and the Trustees of the Georgia colony. For example, early policies banned slavery and limited the amount of land that could be owned. The Malcontents were particularly vocal about wanting the opportunity to own more land and to use enslaved labor, which they believed would improve their economic prospects.
In summary, while the Malcontents were some of the early settlers who had received assistance upon their arrival, their main grievances were centered on restrictive policies that limited their growth and prosperity in the colony. Their agitation contributed to the eventual relaxation of many policies regarding land and slavery in Georgia.
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