Which state began as a penal colony?
Well, few people know that the State of Georgia, for example, was first founded by James Edward Oglethorpe by using penal prisoners taken largely from debtors' prison, creating a "Debtor's Colony". That was quite a good a solution to overcrowding of British debtors.
Did YOU know about this piece of American history?
More Info:
en.wikipedia.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
71 Comments
James Poli
The question is pretty clear 'Which state BEGAN as a Penal colony?'
Jim Hill
don't believe this question is accurate. yes there was a penal colony in the state of georgia but i don't believe the entire state was known as a prison, by far.
marijohnross
tdelisi, 👍
Helga U. Williams
England had a nice way of shipping out their criminals. First they used America, then they used Australia.
😊
earlepg
Don't remember where I heard that Georgia started as a penal (or debtors) colony. I don't think it was in school. It was probably in something I read 50-60 years ago.
kotakat
It wasn't just debtors. England sent a lot of their Jacobite prisoners there as well. Thus the high percentage of Scotch/Irish heritage there.
Caroline Weis
Had an inkling as my ex- husband used to tell me that if I messed up the state would put me on a chain gang. Really wasn't worried about that though.
Dale Moore
The idea Oglethorpe and Viscount Perceval had was to create a colony for debtors in prison in England. Truth is they could find no investors and no debtors actually came to Georgia.
Sue Gembrini-Spataro
Had no idea
Claire Mitchell
Great Britain did the same thing with Australia. Prisoners landed at the “Rock” in Sydney. I know because I was there. P.S. Everyone should visit Australia 🇦🇺 from Sydney to Darwin in the tropics (North). Let us not forget Alice Springs and Ayers Rock (Uluru) in the middle. How about swimming the reef on the East Coast. Take a ride on the Kuranda train 🚂 which is over
one hundred years old. Let us not forget Kakadu National Park.
Cheryl McMeekin
Lucky guess
Marcella Kosse
Jim Hill, I believe they are saying it was a penal colony before it became a state. The question was poorly written as it is unlikely the whole area that became a state was a penal colony.
Janice Lea Vanlandingham
I find it kind of funny that the British doesn't understand shipping convicts doesn't win votes and make friends. They tried it with Australia and Georgia.
Lynn Delage
I had a vague memory of that fact. Not sure where I learned it but don't think it was in school.
Donna R. O'Brien Moran
Answered correctly.
Mark Ann Dubaz
Learned this years ago in reading or school.
Karin Johansson
Jody Huneycutt, it wasn't only English prisoners in Australia, many were irish poor people taking some cow or something else because they wanted to survive.