Chapter 3: Colonial Ways of Life

1
Chapter 3 Colonial Ways of Life

• Section 1

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The Southern Economy

• The southern economy was based on commercial
  agriculture.
• The main cash crop was tobacco while rice and
  indigo was also grown.
• Large plantations were an effect of the possible
  riches of growing cash crops.
• The geography of Virginia was perfect for growing
  tobacco.

3
The Southern Economy

• Lack of laborers was a key problem for farmers in
  the early years.
• Indentured servantry was a system used to help
  with the labor force.

4
Southern Society

• Two distinct social groups emerged in the South.
• The wealthy landowner enjoyed enormous economic
  and political influence.
• Many of the wealthy copied the fashions and
  lifestyle of Englands upper class.
• Due to this economic success the upper class
  enjoyed a lot of leisure time.

5
Southern Society

• The smaller, poor farmers were a much larger
  group of people who lived tough lives.
• They had to concentrate their farming on food to
  feed their families.
• Many of the poor farmers died due to disease,
  hunger, or weather.

6
Bacons Rebellion

• Due to taxes and voting rights the poor were fed
  up.
• The wealthy in Virginia didnt want the poor to
  take Native American lands fearing war.
• The poor took matters into their own hands and
  started battling the Native Americans.

7
Bacons Rebellion

• Nathanial Bacon joined the poor because of the
  Native American threat.
• Bacon then lead his troops into Jamestown to
  demand more reform
• He died and the rebellion ended.
• Due to the rebellion Virginia took more land to
  keep the poor happy and slavery increased to keep
  servants out.

8
Slavery in the Colonies

• Enslaved Africans were put into ships on the West
  African Coast and sent to the Americas on the
  Middle Passage.
• The quarters on the ship were cramp and inhumane.
• In the beginning many Africans were treated like
  indentured servants gaining freedom by adopting
  Christianity.

9
Slavery in the Colonies

• By 1705 laws were set up to regulated and defined
  slavery.
• Due to these laws the slaves lost most rights and
  became nothing more than property of their owners.