The Georgia colony was established in 1732 as the last of the original thirteen American colonies. Founded by James Oglethorpe, it was created as a place for debtors and the poor to start anew. The colony aimed to provide a buffer between the more prosperous South Carolina and Spanish Florida. Located along the Savannah River, the Georgia colony was known for its agriculture, particularly the cultivation of rice and indigo. It initially prohibited slavery, but this policy changed in 1750, leading to a significant increase in the enslaved population and agricultural production.