Chapter 4-1 Notes The Economy of the Colonies
1. What do most colonists do to make a living? FARMING! Most colonists left Europe for the opportunity to have their own farm Plenty of land in American If not farming, much of the work is related to farming Milling, selling supplies, shipping crops
2. NEW ENGLAND ECONOMY Land & Geography Thin, rocky soil - Not great for large scale farms Lots of forests in the region Farm Economy Subsistence farming Producing enough for your family - very little to sell or trade Everyone in the family helped Other Economic Activity Many small businesses (Grain & lumber mills, blacksmiths, shoemakers, gunsmiths, furniture makers) Shipbuilding Trade - shipping between the colonies and the rest of the world Fishing - great fishing & whaling (oil and whalebone)
2. Middle colonies economy Land & Geography Fertile soil and good climate Good harbors Farm Economy Cash crops crops in demand and easy to sell Wheat and other food crops - Breadbasket colonies Livestock Other Economic Activity Home based crafts Larger businesses (mills, mines, ironworks)
2. Southern Economy Land & Geography Rich soil and warm climate Tidewater - flat, low lying plains along the coast Backcountry - area along the Appalachian Mountains Farm Economy Plantation system Huge farms producing cash crops - tobacco & rice Self sufficient - like a small town, located on rivers for transportation Relied on slave labor (50-200 per plantation) Small family farms in the backcountry Tobacco and corn A few slaves Tobacco in VA, MD & NC - Rice in SC & GA Other Economic Activity Very little - relied on London merchants for trade & supplies
3. Slavery and the Southern Colonies Tobacco and rice are labor intensive crops Huge plantations develop and workers are needed Indentured servants had to be replaced - became hard to find 4. Slavery in Africa Slavery had been practiced in West Africa - enslaved prisoners of war Some had been bought by Arab traders Started selling to Europeans to take to the Americans - where labor was needed Africans were taken captive thru war or raids (kidnapping) Children kidnapped while parents were working
5. Triangular Trade Three part trade route between America, Great Britain and Africa Route #1 (Blue on map pg. 88) British colonies send rice, tobacco, indigo, & furs to Great Britain Great Britain sends cloth & manufactured goods to the West Indies West Indies send sugar & molasses to the British colonies Route #2 (Red on map pg. 88) British colonies send rum, iron, & tools to Africa Africa sends enslaved persons, gold, pepper to West Indies West Indies send sugar, molasses & enslaved persons to the British colonies
6. Middle PAssage Trip across the ocean for enslaved Africans Usually the second (middle) part of the triangular trade Trip took more than a month Chained together - can hardly move Packed as many as possible on the boat Very little food & water Sick and dead thrown overboard Whipping used as punishment Enslaved Africans didn t always know what was happening Separated from family and friends
7. Life for Enslaved Africans in the Colonies Most work in the fields - Some work in the house Overseers kept them in line Slave Codes Rules to control the behavior and punishment of the enslaved people Can t leave plantation without permission or travel freely Illegal to teach enslaved people to read and write Cannot meet in large groups Punishments included whipping, hanging, burning Families torn apart at slave auctions Develop a culture that included African languages, customs, traditions, religion Some learned trades or skills
8. Criticism of Slavery Not everyone in the colonies supported slavery Especially religious groups like the Quakers, Puritans, and Mennonites