The Southern Colonies: Plantations and Slavery

The Plantation Economy Characteristics of Plantation Almost year round growing season Cash crops Rice – tobacco – indigo Labor intensive Near waterways – easy to transport crops Self-sufficient = few large cities

The Turn to Slavery Changes in labor 1660s Indentured servants not permanent Fewer coming to South Middle colonies more attractive Native Americans – not a good source Died of European diseases – easily escape Brought in enslaved Africans – 40% of pop

Plantations Expand Slavery allows plantations to grow Drain swamps - new land for crops Rice Labor intensive – requires skill Slaves from West Africa – rice region Indigo Eliza Lucas introduced it South Carolina Plant gives a blue dye

The Planter Class Economics & Political Power More slaves working = produce more crops Planter class becomes wealthy Small landowners cannot compete Sell land & move west Planter Class gain political & economic power

Life Under Slavery Conditions & Treatment Supervised by an overseer Work 15 hours a day Whipped for wrong doings Lived small one-room cabins Sometimes had a garden

Life Under Slavery Conditions & Treatment Unique culture develops Music – dance – stories - spirituals African – American culture Combination of Anglo & African culture Christianity Helps slaves endure

Resistance to Slavery Ways of resisting Work slow – damage goods – purposely do things wrong Rebellion Stono Rebellion – 1730 Slaves capture weapons Kill white planters March to Spanish Florida Caught and executed

Resistance to Slavery Result of Stono Rebellion Slave codes Forbidden to leave plantation w/out a pass Slaves cannot gather in large groups Illegal to teach slaves to read & write