Southern Colonies

Williamsburg

Williamsburg

Southern Colonies Power Point Presentation

Colonies

  • Maryland
  • Virginia
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Georgia

Climate and Geography

The Southern Colonies enjoyed warm climate with hot summers and mild winters. Geography ranged from coastal plains in the east to piedmont farther inland. The westernmost regions were mountainous. The soil was perfect for farming and the growing season was longer than in any other region. Hot summers, however, propagated diseases such as malaria and yellow fever.

Religion

Most people in the Southern Colonies were Anglican (Baptist or Presbyterian), though most of the original settlers from the Maryland colony were Catholic, as Lord Baltimore founded it as a refuge for English Catholics. Religion did not have the same impact on communities as in the New England colonies or the Mid-Atlantic colonies because people lived on plantations that were often distant and spread out from one another.

Economy

The Southern economy was almost entirely based on farming. Rice, indigo, tobacco, sugarcane, and cotton were cash crops. Crops were grown on large plantations where slaves and indentured servants worked the land. In fact, Charleston, South Carolina became one of the centers of the American slave trade in the 1700’s.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why was farming so successful in the Southern Colonies?
  2. How did the geography and climate affect life in the South?
  3. What were the main differences in religion between the Southern Colonies and New England?
  4. Why did the Southern economy depend so much on enslaved labor?

Glossary

  • Anglican: A branch of Christianity connected to the Church of England.
  • Cash Crops: Crops grown to be sold for money, not just used by the farmer.
  • Indentured Servant: A person who agreed to work for someone for a set number of years in exchange for a trip to America.
  • Plantation: A large farm that usually grows one main crop and uses many workers.
  • Slave Trade: The buying and selling of human beings to work as slaves, especially in the 1600s and 1700s.
  • Piedmont: An area of rolling hills between the coast and the mountains.

Colonies

The Southern Colonies included Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Climate and Geography

The Southern Colonies had hot summers and mild winters. The land had flat coastal plains, rolling hills (piedmont), and mountains in the west. The soil was rich, and the long growing season made it great for farming. However, the hot weather also led to diseases like malaria and yellow fever.

Religion

Most people in the Southern Colonies were members of the Anglican Church (such as Baptists and Presbyterians). Maryland was started as a place for Catholics. Unlike in New England, religion was not a big part of daily life since people lived far apart on farms and plantations.

Economy

The Southern Colonies made money mainly from farming. They grew cash crops like rice, tobacco, indigo, cotton, and sugarcane. These crops were grown on large plantations that used slave labor and indentured servants. Charleston, South Carolina became a major center for the slave trade in the 1700s.