1. The Southern Colonies: Plantations & Slavery

2. ~The Plantation Economy~
Most large Plantations were built on the Tidewater
The Southern Colonies soil and almost year round growing season allowed the cultivation of cash crops
Crops grown for profit and trade
Tobacco – Native American plant, cultivation saved Jamestown
Rice Many Africans came to America knowing how to farm it.
Indigo – Introduced by Eliza Lucas grown on higher ground in the South.
All Required large labor forces to grow
The many Southern waterways allowed oceangoing ships to load goods directly at the Plantations
As a result there was few large cities
Charleston was one of the few exceptions
Most plantations were self sufficient, meaning they farm and make nearly everything they need.

3. Plantations

4. The Planter Class
The Plantation owners became the elite of Southern Society.
This Planter Class as it was called controlled all the political and economic power in the South.
The best comparison is they were like the Nobles in England and Europe
It made up about 10% of the population
The rest of the population was made up of mostly poor freemen, indentured servants, and slaves

6. ~The Turn to Slavery~
When the Southern Colonies began most workers were European indentured servants
By the 1660’s indentured servants use declined
They were paying off their time and starting farms of their own
They became to expensive as most were living through their servitude.
Bacon’s Rebellion also ended the use of Indentured Servants (later slide)
Planters also tried to enslave natives
European diseases kept killing them.
Or they would escape
The Planters turned to enslaved Africans
By 1750 African Slave population was over 235,000.
68% lived in the Southern Colonies
African Slaves made up 40% of the Southern Population

7. Bacon’s Rebellion
In 1676 Nathaniel Bacon and a group of landless settlers demanded that the Virginia Governor (William Berkeley) defend the Western Frontier from Native Americans.
These former indentured servants and poor freeman had been pushed to the Backcountry by the Planters
Governor Berkeley refused to defend the frontier
Bacon and his followers took control of Jamestown and burn it and the House of Burgesses to the ground
Bacon dies suddenly and the rebellion is quickly crushed
23 of Bacon’s followers are hung
King Charles II is angered by the Governor Berkeley’s actions and is recalled to England
The House of Burgesses passes new laws to prevent the Governor for assuming such power again

9. ~Life Under Slavery~ The Brutal Daily Life of Slaves
On large plantations Slaves were watch by Overseers people who directed the work of the Slaves
Slaves would often work 15 hours a day
Overseers would often whip and punish slaves for failure
Slaves often lived in one room cabins.
They usually received a quarter bushel of cornmeal and 3 pound of pork per week
Some were allowed to grow their own food depended on the owner
Families could be separated and sold at anytime
Traveling Africans were often checked for passes
Slave quarters were often checked for weapons
Slaves did their best to keep their traditions of music, dance, stories and religion
Most turned to Christianity as time went on

11. ~Resistance to Slavery~
Most resistance was subtle
They worked Slowly
Damaged Goods
Deliberately carried out orders the wrong way
Pretended not to Understand
Slaves sometimes revolted
Stono Rebellion
In September slaves joined together killing planters, their families and burned seven plantations while trying to escaped to Spanish Florida.
By the end of the day the militia had surrounded the rebellion killing most of the slaves and later executing the survivors.
As a result
Slaves were forbidden form leaving their plantations without permission.
Laws made it illegal for slaves to meet with free Africans
Slavery became even worst for most slaves.