Geography influences colonial development Essential Question: “To what extent does geography shape human development?”

Three Colonial Regions New England Colonies Middle Colonies Southern Colonies Rhode Island New Hampshire Connecticut Massachusetts Delaware New Jersey New York Pennsylvania VirginiaNorth CarolinaMaryland South Carolina Georgia

Topography -

New England Colonies Geographic Features: Hilly and mountainous terrain Small coastal plains with rocky soil Heavily forested Shallow and quick flowing rivers Very good harbors and fisheries Impact: Cities built on harbors became center of society Agriculture was mainly “subsistance” farms

Middle Colonies Geographic Features: Wider coastal plains with sandy soil Pine and Deciduous forests (less dense) Mountainous terrain evident in the West Deeper, slower flowing rivers Good inland harbors Impact: Known as the “Bread Basket” colonies. Early industry because of mineral wealth in mountains. Have both big cities and larger farms

Southern Colonies Geographic Features: Large, fertile, and wide coastal plains Deep and navigable rivers extend inland Mild winters, Hot summers Impact: Plantation System to grow cash crops Cities did not develop well Climate was not healthy (Mosquito-borne diseases)

What were they growing? Brown Gold! Tobacco was the first incredibly profitable crop. By the late 1620s, colonists were exporting 1.5 million pounds per year. Other cash crops included cotton, rice, sugar and indigo.

Evolution of Slavery in the Southern Colonies The size and style of agriculture in the South required a large number of laborers. Southern plantation owners needed to find a large number of workers cheaply. They first turned to: 1) Indentured Servants – People who agree to work for someone for a number of years, often in return for travel expense, shelter and food. Supported by the Headright System. System which encouraged colonization by giving land grants to anyone willing to travel or bring people to the New World 1676 Bacon’s Rebellion changed labor relations. Armed uprising of former indentured servants in Virginia

Evolution of Slavery in the Southern Colonies 2) Native American Slavery – Planters began to capture and trade for Native Americans slaves. Problems with Native American slaves: - unfamiliar with European farming - died of European diseases easily - easily ran away and would stay away

Evolution of Slavery in the Southern Colonies 3) African Slavery – Africans captured and transported from West Africa to work on plantations. African slavery slow to develop (at first): 1619 – First Africans arrive in Virginia on Dutch ship 1670 – Only 2,000 slaves in Virginia 1685 – Africans outnumber white servants (????) 1750 – ½ population of Virginia is African slaves African slaves outnumber whites in S.C (2:1) Why African Slaves?