The Southern Colonies: Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia

The Southern Colonies:The Southern Colonies:

Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, GeorgiaSouth Carolina, Georgia

Virginia 1607Virginia 1607

• Founded in 1607 by Founded in 1607 by the London Company.the London Company.

• Founded for profit.Founded for profit.• The first permanent The first permanent

English settlement English settlement (Jamestown).(Jamestown).

• John Smith helped John Smith helped the colony survive the the colony survive the early years.early years.

VirginiaVirginia

• The colony almost failed, The colony almost failed, but cash crop was but cash crop was introduced: tobacco.introduced: tobacco.

• Grew well in the climate Grew well in the climate of Virginia.of Virginia.

• Grown in other southern Grown in other southern colonies as well.colonies as well.

• Labor was imported to Labor was imported to work on huge farms work on huge farms called plantations.called plantations.

VirginiaVirginia

• Slaves were imported from Africa to work on plantations in Virginia.

• They had no freedom and were totally under the control of the plantation owner.

House of BurgessesHouse of Burgesses

• The first representative government in the colonies.

• Voters elected members of the House.

• Members made laws.

Maryland: 1634Maryland: 1634

MarylandMaryland

• Founded by John Calvert (Lord Baltimore) as a place for Catholics to worship freely.

• Passed the Toleration Act which promised religious freedom to all Christians.

• Economy was mostly based on

tobacco.

North and South Carolina

The Carolinas1663North and South

* Founded for profit and religious reasons.

• Was named after King Charles. (“Carol” is “Charles” in Latin)

• Split into North and South by the King in 1729 when he took control of the colony.

• Rice, tobacco, and indigo were the main crops.

• Slave labor was used.

Georgia 1732

Georgia

• Founded by James Oglethorpe.

• Was a place for debtors to go and work off their debts.

• Named after King George.

Georgia

• The colony was an important barrier between the Spanish colony of Florida and the “more important colonies” of SC, and NC etc.