Why was Georgia established for debtors and criminals?

Georgia was established in 1732 by James Oglethorpe as a colony for debtors and the poor, aiming to provide a fresh start and an opportunity for rehabilitation. It was intended to serve as a buffer between the wealthy South Carolina colony and Spanish Florida, as well as to deter criminal activity by relocating those imprisoned for debt or minor offenses. The colony's founders believed that these individuals could contribute to society through hard work and agriculture, thereby reducing the burden on British prisons.