What was one of the main prohibitions in Oglethorpe's Georgia colony?

One of the main prohibitions in Oglethorpe's Georgia colony was the practice of slavery. When James Oglethorpe founded the colony in 1733, he envisioned it as a refuge for debtors and the poor. He aimed to create a new society based on equality and hard work, which included prohibiting slavery in order to establish a labor force that was free and motivated. This prohibition was a defining characteristic of the colony, reflecting Oglethorpe’s reformist ideals.

The choice to exclude slavery was significant not only socially but also economically. Oglethorpe believed that the presence of enslaved individuals would undermine the plans for a free labor force and the moral vision for the colony. Over time, however, this prohibition was lifted due to economic pressures and the need for a more labor-intensive agriculture system, especially with the cultivation of crops like rice and indigo. This shift marked a significant change in the colony’s development and its eventual alignment with the practices of other southern colonies.