Final answer:
Jewish settlers were allowed in Georgia due to the colony's commitment to religious liberty in its charter, although Catholics were excluded. The colony's foundation embraced diversity and protection for religious refugees, which included one of the oldest Jewish congregations in Savannah. Economic factors and defensive concerns also shaped early Georgian society.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1733, when a group of Jews arrived in Georgia, they were allowed to stay in the colony despite the objections of the Trustees. The social provisions of the Georgia Charter granted religious liberty for "all", promoting a diverse population including religious refugees, although Catholics were specifically excluded. James Oglethorpe, one of Georgia's founders, allowed these Jewish settlers to remain, contributing to Savannah becoming home to one of the oldest Jewish congregations in the United States.
The colony was also influenced by economic considerations and the desire to create a buffer against Spanish Florida. Georgia initially banned slavery, undermining the viability of large plantation agriculture and emphasizing smallhold farming. However, pressure from South Carolina plantation owners and internal groups, like the "Malcontents", eventually led to the legalization of slavery in 1750. This decision largely came from pragmatic considerations, not abolitionist principles.