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Let's start in the year 1735...
Surprisingly, the founders of the colony of Georgia vote to ban slavery. Of the 13 American colonies, they're the only one with such a ban.
Many view the ban as a crippling economic disadvantage, and a campaign to overturn it begins.
Surprisingly, the founders of the colony of Georgia vote to ban slavery. Of the 13 American colonies, they're the only one with such a ban.
Many view the ban as a crippling economic disadvantage, and a campaign to overturn it begins.
1740 - England’s preaching superstar, George Whitefield, embarks on a tour through the American colonies.
He zig-zags the east coast on horseback, preaching to crowds of thousands—The First Great Awakening.
That same year, Whitefield begins construction on an orphanage in GA.
He zig-zags the east coast on horseback, preaching to crowds of thousands—The First Great Awakening.
That same year, Whitefield begins construction on an orphanage in GA.
Funding is tough, so he decides he needs slave labor to make the numbers work.
Leveraging the power of his own celebrity, he starts advocating for the legalization of slavery in Georgia, claiming, "it is impossible for the inhabitants to subsist without the use of slaves."
Leveraging the power of his own celebrity, he starts advocating for the legalization of slavery in Georgia, claiming, "it is impossible for the inhabitants to subsist without the use of slaves."
1751 - The trustees of Georgia cave & slavery is officially made legal.
For the next 25 years, the state’s enslaved population swells to 18,000.
And by the 1760’s, slave ships from Africa are pouring into the port of Savannah.
Human trafficking is now booming in Georgia.
For the next 25 years, the state’s enslaved population swells to 18,000.
And by the 1760’s, slave ships from Africa are pouring into the port of Savannah.
Human trafficking is now booming in Georgia.
1765 - Legislators, ever in fear of slave revolts, begin passing brutally detailed laws to control the slave population.
These laws sanction “night patrols,” groups of white men on horseback who roam the countryside, looking for runaway slaves.
These laws sanction “night patrols,” groups of white men on horseback who roam the countryside, looking for runaway slaves.
Here’s an example of one of those laws, directly from a Georgia law book that I own (pg 775)…
"Each patrol shall go to and examine the several plantations in their divisions...and may take up all slaves which they shall see outside the fences of their owners’ plantations…
"Each patrol shall go to and examine the several plantations in their divisions...and may take up all slaves which they shall see outside the fences of their owners’ plantations…
or who have not some white person in company to give an account of his, her, or their business; and such patrol may correct every such slave or sales by whipping with a switch, whip, or cow-skin, not exceeding 20 lashes.”
SO…
if you—random white man—find a slave off their master's property without a white escort, you’re freely authorized by Georgia law to whip that slave, on the spot, at least 20 times.
(Read it for yourself...bottom left)
if you—random white man—find a slave off their master's property without a white escort, you’re freely authorized by Georgia law to whip that slave, on the spot, at least 20 times.
(Read it for yourself...bottom left)
FYI: This book is filled with outrageous laws like this.
Another one (pg 913), makes it clear that there’s no punishment for a white person if they accidentally kill a slave while administering “moderate correction."
Moderate.
Another one (pg 913), makes it clear that there’s no punishment for a white person if they accidentally kill a slave while administering “moderate correction."
Moderate.
1790 - The newly independent United State of America commissions its first census.
It records more than 29,000 slaves in Georgia—a staggering 35% of the state’s population.
It records more than 29,000 slaves in Georgia—a staggering 35% of the state’s population.
1805 - Georgia's infamous “land lotteries” begin.
The legislature subdivides state land—previously owned by the indigenous Creek & Cherokee people—into thousands of lots and raffles them off to white, mostly-male settlers.
These lotteries continue into the 1830s.
The legislature subdivides state land—previously owned by the indigenous Creek & Cherokee people—into thousands of lots and raffles them off to white, mostly-male settlers.
These lotteries continue into the 1830s.
