Introduction
It is a well-known fact that the British Empire formed thirteen colonies on the eastern shore of the North American continent. Nevertheless, those colonies were formed for different reasons and offered unique experiences for the European settlers. The last British colony formed in America was the Georgia Colony, established in the 1730s (Library of Congress, n.d.). If I were a European moving to America in the XVIII century, I would choose to move to Georgia.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Living in Georgia Colony
I believe the Georgia colony would be a good place to move to as each of the settlers received a holding of land. Although the holding could not exceed 500 acres, having land in the new world equaled the ability to feed one’s family and profit from it (Library of Congress, n.d.). Another advantage is the compound design of the colony’s towns, which helped strengthen its defenses against attacks (Library of Congress, n.d.). In the XVIII centuries, British colonies had many enemies, and having defenses put in place by the settlements is an advantage.
There were also disadvantages of moving to the last of the original colonies. The main disadvantage was the settlers’ inability to make and pass laws (Library of Congress, n.d.). The twenty trustees of the colony had the ultimate legislative power and passed laws regardless of the needs and views of the people residing in the colony (Library of Congress, n.d.). Additionally, the amount of land each colonist could own was restricted, preventing the most affluent immigrants from expanding their opportunities. Although this measure protected the poor, it restricted many from accumulating more land and profit.
Conclusion
Overall, the Georgia colony could be a safe place to move to in the early XVIII century. The settlers received some benefits for moving there, including the right to hold land. The settlements were also well protected from potential attacks. However, the settlers were limited in their rights, could not significantly extend their holding, and had to follow the laws put in place by the trustees.
Reference
Library of Congress. (n.d.). Establishing the Georgia Colony, 1732-1750. The Library of Congress. Web.