The Good Forest: The Salzburgers, Success, and the Plan for Georgia

The Salzburgers, a group of migrants from Europe, achieved self-sufficiency in the Ebenezer settlement in Georgia, challenging the notion that only a slave-based plantation economy could succeed. Their story reveals the possibilities of Atlantic colonization and the interwoven themes of Atlantic migrations, colonization, charity, and transatlantic religious networks.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 254 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2024
Publisher: University of Georgia Press

Georgia, the last of Britain's American mainland colonies, was founded with the aim of establishing a morally upright society based on small family farms without the use of enslaved labor. However, this vision was not fully realized, and Georgia eventually became a slave plantation society, following the Carolina model. While the failure of Georgia's early aspirations is well documented, the story of the Salzburgers, a group of migrants who arrived in Georgia with the support of British and German philanthropy, offers a different perspective. The Salzburgers settled in the Ebenezer settlement and achieved self-sufficiency, following the Trustees' plans. Their settlement was significant in the early population of Georgia, and their experiences provide valuable insights into early Georgia and the potential of Atlantic colonization. The relative success of the Ebenezer settlement challenges the prevailing narrative that only a slave-based plantation economy could succeed in Georgia's history. Auman's book highlights the interconnected themes of Atlantic migrations, colonization, charity, and transatlantic religious networks, shedding light on the complex factors that shaped Georgia's early development.

Weight: 388g
Dimension: 228 x 151 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780820366098