Settling the Southern Colonies English Colonization Settling the Southern Colonies

Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia Southern Colonies

Economy Farming Cash crop = crop grown for sale instead of for use Ex: tobacco, rice, cotton Plantations = big farms Worked by slaves To grow cash crops, need lots of workers Why the South depends on slaves

The importance of tobacco Tobacco is in high demand in Europe Leads to a creation of a wealthy class called the “planter aristocracy” Tobacco industry grows  Need for more labor  need even more slaves

Life in the south In SC, more slaves than colonists So, population mostly black Slaves came from different parts of Africa, part of various cultures, and spoke different languages The effect of slavery is racism and poverty for African Americans

Bacon’s Rebellion More colonists coming to Virginia  Less land for indentured servants More indentured servants have to settle in the backcountry  Indentured servants are closer to Native Americans Indentured servants do not get protection from Native Americans  They rebel against the Virginia Government People do not trust indentured servants  Use more African slaves to cultivate tobacco