Economics and Government in the Colonies Unit 1, Lesson 4
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Essential Idea The Southern and New England colonies developed
differently socially, economically, and in government.
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Southern Society The Southern Colonies: Include BOTH Chesapeake
and Southern colonies Southern Geography: Warm, lots of fertile
land, good for agriculture Southern Economy: Growing cash crops for
export, especially tobacco, rice, and cotton
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Southern Social Structure Top: Wealthy planters were the
smallest group, but owned the most wealth and land near the coast
Held the most influence in government and could afford private
education for their children Middle: Small farmers were the biggest
group, but had little wealth and little land Practiced subsistence
farming and lived in the backcountry Bottom: Indentured servants
and African slaves, who owned no land and usually worked for
wealthy planters
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Indentured Servants Indentured Servants: Poor Englishmen who
agreed to work for a wealthy planter in exchange for transportation
to America Indentured servants worked 4-7 years and were given
food, shelter, and clothing Headright system: The English
government gave wealthy planters 50 acres for each indentured
servant they brought to America
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Indentured Servitude Results for Wealthy Planters: Got cheap
labor for their growing plantations Received large amounts of the
best land Results for Indentured Servants: Often worked extremely
hard, were treated badly, and many died before the end of their
contract If they finished their contract, there was little or no
good or Indian-free land left for them
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Bacons Rebellion Causes: Virginias governor was Sir William
Berkeley and wealthy planters dominated the government (in the
House of Burgesses) They passed laws that hurt small farmers and
ex- indentured servants, revoking their voting rights When small
farmers and ex- indentured servants fought Indians for land, the
government sided with Indians They were also frustrated by the lack
of women
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Bacons Rebellion In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon led a militia of poor
farmers to attack the Indians Next, the militia turned on the
Virginia government, civil war broke out, and Jamestown was burned
Bacon got sick and died, causing the rebellion to fall apart and
end
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From Indentured Servitude to African Slavery Effects: Wealthy
planters began to stop using indentured servants and turned to
African slaves for labor Unlike indentured servants, slaves would
never be free and never need land Slaves would be less likely and
less able to rebel The Southern economy would become dependent on
FARMING, based on SLAVERY for labor The Evolution from Indentured
Servitude to African Slavery
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New England (Northern) Society New England Geography: Colder,
rocky soil, not good for agriculture New England Economy: Based on
SMALL farms (subsistence) Based on fishing, lumber, and
shipbuilding
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New England Society Social Structure: New England society was
based on TOWNS Puritans lived close together so they could regulate
moral behavior and earn Gods favor Towns were centered around
church, school, and the marketplace
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New England Culture Culture Puritans were very religious,
worked hard, and watched over each others moral behavior Education
was heavily emphasized and most towns had schools Literacy rates
were very high, largely so Puritans could read the Bible
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New England Government Government: Town meetings gradually
replaced the General Court At town meetings, local issues were
discussed and local officials were elected By contrast, Southern
colonial government was less involved in peoples lives because they
lived far apart Town meetings gave residents a feeling of self-
government Belief in the right to self- government would eventually
help lead to the American Revolution New England Society
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Setting the Stage for the Civil War Future Tension: Different
geography caused northern and southern parts of America to develop
differently North: 1. Economy based on business and manufacturing
2. Desire for pro-business and pro-manufacturing government 3.
Little need for slavery
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Seeds of the Civil War South: 1. Economy based on agriculture
2. Desire for pro-agriculture government 3. Strong need for slavery
Future Result: PARTLY due to geography, tension would grow between
the North and South because each section of the country had
different needs (sectionalism) This tension would eventually cause
the American Civil War
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Triangular Trade 1. New England colonies sent Africa
manufactured goods and rum 2. Africa sent slaves to the West Indies
(Carribbean) This middle passage was very difficult for slaves, and
many died 3. Sugar plantations in the West Indies sent sugar and
molasses to the colonies, where they were turned into rum Slaves
who survived in the West Indies were often sent to the colonies too
The Middle Passage
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The Colonies Grow Other Trade: The colonies also sent raw
materials to England like tobacco, fish, lumber, etc. Impact of
Trade on Colonies: Port cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia,
and Charlestown grew