5.3 Colonial Economies

Essential Questions

• How does a colony’s geography affect its economy?

• Describe the economies of the New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies

The Southern Colonies

Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina

The economies of the southern colonies depended on agricultureoAgriculture= farming

They also exported materials for ship building, such as wood and tar

There were both small farms and large plantations in the southern colonies

The Southern Colonies

Farms were successful because of a warm climate and a long growing season• (Think about Ohioans going to Myrtle

Beach for vacation) Cash Crops – crops that are sold for a profit

o Tobacco, rice, and indigo were the most important cash crops

Crops like indigo and rice required many workers to grow and harvest

Slaves in the South

The success of tobacco also led to an increase in the demand for tobacco, which led to more slaves

Slaves did most of the hard labor on large plantations

When a job was finished, slaves were sometimes allowed to do their own work.

Slaves in the South

Sometimes a slave would be able to earn enough money to buy their freedom

Slave codes- laws that controlled slaveso Prevented slaves from rebelling

In SC, slaves could not hold meetings or own weapons

Some colonies did not let slaveholders free their slaves

The New England Colonies

Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island

Harsh climate and poor soil led to fewer farms and cash crops

Some people owned slaves, but they were not as important to the economy as in the south

Trade was extremely important to New England’s economy

Businessmen traded goods locally, with other colonies, and overseas

The New England Colonies

Fishing and shipbuilding were two of the region’s leading industriesoWhaling also became very popular

Whale oil was used for lighting lanterns Whale meat was eaten

o Shipbuilding was also very prosperous because of the following reasons Large # of forests in the area Local fishing industries needed ships Ships were also needed for trading other goods

The New England Colonies

The New England economy allowed for skilled craftspeople to flourish

Families sent younger sons to learn skilled trades like blacksmithing, weaving, shipbuilding, and printing.

Apprentices- young boys who learned skilled trades from a master craftsman

The Middle Colonies

Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York

Combined qualities of New England and southern colonies

Had a good growing season and rich land, which led to many farms

Staple Crops- crops that are always neededo Ex: wheat, barley, oats

The Middle Colonies

Slaves were also important to the middle colonieso They worked as skilled laborers, such as

blacksmiths and carpenterso Some worked on farms, on ships, in dockyards, or

shipbuilding Trade and free enterprise were important to

the middle colonies Merchants also exported local goods to Britain

and the West Indies

Women and the Colonial Economy

Women made many important contributions to the local economieso Ran farms o Ran businesses such as clothing stores, bakeries, grocery

stores, and drug storeso Some were nurses or midwives (help to deliver children)

Laws and customs put restrictions on women’s freedomso Needed husband’s permission to work outside the homeo Husband has the right to wife’s income