In 1733, James Oglethorpe and a band of settlers arrived on the banks of the Savannah River, laying the foundation for what would become the Colony of Georgia. Unlike its neighbors, Georgia was founded with a unique mission—a blend of philanthropy, military strategy, and economic ambition. Oglethorpe, a British MP and military officer, envisioned a colony that would offer debtors and the impoverished a fresh start while serving as a buffer between Spanish Florida and the prosperous Carolinas. The colony's early days were marked by strict regulations—no slavery, no large landholdings, and no rum—designed to create a society of hardworking, independent farmers. Savannah, Georgia’s first settlement, was meticulously planned and quickly became a vital hub of commerce and culture. But as the years passed, economic pressures forced Georgia to evolve beyond its idealistic beginnings, setting the stage for a complex and often contradictory history that still shapes the state today.