What were the Malcontents primarily demanding in Georgia?

The Malcontents were a group of early Georgia colonists who had several grievances regarding the colony's governance and land policies, particularly focused on changes to land ownership restrictions and the prohibition of slavery. Their primary demand was to allow for the ownership of larger tracts of land, as the original charter of Georgia limited land ownership to 50 acres per person. Additionally, the Malcontents sought to lift the ban on slavery, believing that it would enable them to cultivate their land more profitably and sustain their economic interests.

The dissatisfaction stemmed from the fact that Georgia was initially established as a philanthropic venture, and its founders, including James Oglethorpe, had intended for the colony to serve as a refuge for the impoverished while also adhering to certain moral and social ideals, such as prohibiting slavery. However, many of the settlers felt that these limitations were detrimental to their economic success and overall growth of the colony. As a result, the Malcontents actively pushed for reforms that would address these restrictions, making their demands significant to the development and economic future of Georgia during its formative years.