Southern Cities Lesson 3

Trade Ports Southern colonies had fewer cities than the New England and Middle Atlantic Colonies. There were more farms in the south. Big cities in the South were near the water: Savannah (GA), Charles Town (SC), Wilmington (NC) and Baltimore (MD) Exports = indigo, tobacco, rice Imports = tea, coffee, spices

Many people that lived in cities worked in the trade business (merchants). There were also fishermen, tailors, and hat-makers. Young people learning these jobs were called apprentices.

Charles Town, South Carolina Charles Town was the largest city in the Southern Colonies (1600’s-1700’s). It was a port town (boats) and a social town (fun). People worked, danced, and went to concerts.

Other Southern Ports Near the port, colonists built sawmills and shipped trees (not as many as New England though) . Savannah was Georgia’s main port for rice. Savannah was also the capital of Georgia until the late 1700’s. Baltimore, Maryland had a large port to ship tobacco and grain.

County Seats A county seat is the main town in a county. County seats were places to trade. Planters’ families would visit these county seats several times a year. Slaves could be bought and sold there. Most county seats had a courthouse, general store and a jail. Landowners met there to vote.