Southern Colonies

Southern Colonies MD, VA, NC/SC, GA Settlers came for cheap land, farming Cash crops Crops for profit Fertile soil, warm winters/ summers Indigo, rice, tobacco, wheat, corn Large labor force Most farms were small Rivers - allowed for trade

Virginia First successful British colony Largest city – Jamestown Economy dominated by wealthy planters Elite have control of government Tobacco Most populous colony

House of Burgesses 1619 First elected legislature Governor, council, and reps from 11 plantations White, land owning men English crown took control in 1624 George Washington and Thomas Jefferson Foundation for an American identity

Carolinas and Georgia Carolina Georgia Not divided until 1729 Small, rural, mostly farmers Grew tobacco and rice Georgia Buffer colony Protection for Northern colonies from Spanish Florida Debtor colony Created for English prisoners Labor source

Maryland Founded by Lord Baltimore Settled to be a safe haven for Catholics escaping persecution in England Most settlers were Protestant Passed the Toleration Act Provided religious freedom to Christians Both Catholic and Protestant First formal religious toleration law

Indentured Servants Most settlers from England that settled in the South came over as over as indentured servants Signed a contract with a landowner usually lasting between 4-7 years Received passage paid from England Food, clothing, shelter in exchange for labor After contract was up, servants were freed and given tools, food, and sometimes land Later replaced by slavery

Slavery Slavery has been practiced since the beginning of documented history Introduced to New World by the Spanish Started in India --> Africa English economy growing, less people coming over as indentured servants Slave Codes – forbids teaching, reading or writing to slaves South has 90% of the slaves in the colonies

Southern Society Planter Elites Small Farmers/ Yeomen Landless whites and Indentured servants Slaves The gap between the rich and poor grow