The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Here are the correct answers for the quiz:
- Spain founded Georgia: False
- Georgia was created to help debtors: True
- Rum was not allowed: True
Explanation
The founding of the Georgia colony is a unique chapter in American history, characterized by specific philanthropic, military, and economic goals. The statement that Spain founded Georgia is false. The colony was chartered by Great Britain in 1732. General James Oglethorpe, a British parliamentarian and philanthropist, secured the charter from King George II, after whom the colony was named. A primary motivation for establishing Georgia was to create a military buffer zone to protect the valuable British colonies, particularly South Carolina, from Spanish incursions from Florida. While Spain was a significant regional power and rival, it was Great Britain that established and governed the colony.
The statement that Georgia was created to help debtors is true. This was the central philanthropic vision of James Oglethorpe. He was deeply troubled by the conditions in England’s debtors’ prisons and wanted to create a place where the “worthy poor” could have a fresh start. The Trustees of the colony envisioned a society where hardworking individuals, including those formerly imprisoned for debt, could become productive landowners and citizens. Although many of the first colonists were not debtors, this principle of providing opportunity for the financially unfortunate was a core tenet of Georgia’s founding.
Finally, the statement that rum was not allowed is true, at least during the initial Trustee period. Oglethorpe and the Trustees established a set of strict regulations designed to shape Georgia into a model society. They believed that hard liquor, particularly rum, would lead to idleness and moral decay among the colonists. Therefore, its importation and sale were prohibited. This was part of a larger set of rules that also banned slavery and limited land ownership. These regulations proved unpopular with many settlers, and the prohibition on rum was eventually lifted in 1742 to appease the colonists and encourage economic activity.
