1. ENGLISH COLONIES IN N.A. Economic Pursuits Southern Colonies
Virginia (Chesapeake Bay)
Tobacco Plantations operated by Indentured Servants and Slaves
Northern Carolinas
Fur trading with Native Amerindians (deer)
An ecological disaster, changes natives way of life

2. ENGLISH COLONIES IN N.A. Economic Pursuits Southern Colonies (cont.)
Southern Carolinas
Rice and Indigo slave labor plantations
Based on Caribbean model (Barbados)
Slaves and their descendents form the majority of the population
Stono Rebellion (1739) – justification for harsh treatment of slaves
Economic Pursuits

3. ENGLISH COLONIES IN N.A. Economic Pursuits New England Colonies
Poor soils for cash crops led to an economy based initially on - Fur trading
Forest products
Fishing
Over time N.E.’s economy becomes focused on commerce and shipping, led by Boston’s merchant class. Large population follows.

4. ENGLISH COLONIES IN N.A. Economic Pursuits Middle Atlantic Colonies
New York , initially settled by the Dutch, became an important commercial and shipping center (location – outlet for grain heading to Caribbean and Europe)
Pennsylvania became a wealthy grain-exporting colony; run by free family farmers.

5. Significant Differences
ENGLISH COLONIES IN N.A.
Significant Differences
Use of Slavery
In the south the economy became based on the use of slavery
Whereas in the north the economy was based on slave-less commercial activities

6. Significant Differences (cont.)
ENGLISH COLONIES IN N.A.
Significant Differences (cont.)
Social Hierarchy
In the south there was a strong sense of social positioning – planter class on top, with slaves at bottom
In the north there was less sense of hierarchy as there was a more homogenous population

7. Significant Differences (cont.)
ENGLISH COLONIES IN N.A.
Significant Differences (cont.)
Urban Centers
In the south people were widely distributed, with large plantations (rural) and no large cities to speak of / Charleston
In the north and the middle colonies people tended to centralize, with major business centers as the source of commercial activity (New York, Philadelphia and Boston)

8. Significant Differences (cont.)
ENGLISH COLONIES IN N.A.
Significant Differences (cont.)
Government
In the south the governor was appointed by British royalty with a town centered representative organization (House of Burgesses,VA)
In the north the governor was elected by the colonists, and the government featured a lower legislative house

9. Significant Differences (cont.)
ENGLISH COLONIES IN N.A.
Significant Differences (cont.)
Religion
In the south the predominant religions were Anglican and/or Catholic…push was for religious toleration
In the north/MA, the predominant religion was the Puritan faith (wanted to “purify” the Anglican church)
The middle colonies also featured the Quaker religion