Getting’ Down to Bid’ness Trade in the New World Getting’ Down to Bid’ness

Commodities from the New World Trade to and from the New World moved in a circular pattern This is due to the prevailing ocean currents in the North Atlantic This trade cycle, and transfer of plants, animals, and Microorganisms between the New and Old World is called The Columbian Exchange The Columbian Exchange saw the transfer of rum, slaves, tobacco, arms and ammunition, cotton, textiles, rice, fur, lumber, furniture, sugar, gold, fish, and luxury items between Europe, The New World, and Africa Extremely profitable industry to colonists and Europeans alike

A Map of the North Atlantic Trade winds and Currents

The Columbian Exchange This map illustrates the transfer of goods in the Columbian Exchange, and who received what from where.

Cash crops in the New World In North America, plentiful rainfall, a long growing season, and fertile soil made agriculture a booming industry Tobacco farming was the major industry in the southern colonies during the early colonial period Lucrative tobacco profits in colonies like Virginia created a high demand for laborers Landowners sought to increase their holdings (growing fields) in order to increase their wealth

Tobacco Left: The leaf of the tobacco plant that is cured and dried for sale. Right: the leaves are ready for curing when the flower is present.

The Middle Passage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znwRJ5K85XI&t=26s

Fat Cats Get Fatter… Mercantilism – colonial economic practice Acquire as much gold and silver as possible Establish colonies to trade with so you don’t have to rely on foreign imports Export more goods that you import, creating a favorable balance of trade. The practice of mercantilism made the colonies of the New World a necessity for the powers of Europe

Demand for Labor Exploding demand for tobacco made the need for workers skyrocket Slavery – slaves were transported from Africa as part of the Columbian Exchange Indentured Servitude – People agreed to work for a wealthy landowner for a term of 4-7 years in return for passage to the New World, food, and shelter. Landowners paid top dollar for slaves and indentured servitude contracts.

Agricultural differences Northern colonies Crops were not as labor intensive Not much need for slave labor, which was counter to what the northern religious revival was all about anyway Southern colonies The economies of the south was based primarily on agriculture Need for tremendous amounts of laborers to work the land

Religion in the Colonies Protestants from all over Europe came to the New World to freely practice their religion When they were established in the colonies, they sought to spread the word of God to all of the people of the New World The Great Awakening (1740-1750) Preachers travelled from town to town stirring people to rededicate themselves to God Renewed effort to try to convert the native population The Massachusetts Puritans establishing the social and religious “city on the hill” or “light on the hill”

Were y’all listenin’? Define the following: 1. Indentured Servitude 2. Great Awakening 3. Mercantilism 4. Columbian Exchange 5. How were the northern and southern crops different with regard to labor needs?