Life in early America Objectives/Standards: Describe the contributions of geographic and economic conditions, religion, and colonial systems of government to the development of American democratic practices. Describe the geography, cultures, and economics of the Southern, Middle Atlantic, and New England Colonies. Describe interactions (e.g., agricultural and cultural exchanges, alliances, conflicts) between Native Americans and European settlers.

Each colony was unique in it’s characteristics. However, they are grouped together based on location, reasons they were founded, and what types of industries they had. New England Colonies Rhode Island Connecticut Massachusetts New Hampshire Middle Colonies DelawarePennsylvania New York New Jersey Southern Colonies MarylandVirginia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia

Overseer– What is a overseer? Someone that was hired to watch slaves as they worked. Plantation owners hired overseers to watch the slaves and make sure they did their jobs. Indigo– What is indigo? A plant that was used in making blue dye. The farmers grew indigo plants. Indigo was an important cash crop for the Southern colonies.

The settlers here, for the most part, wanted to make money. They brought their families and they kept their them together on the plantations. But their main reason for being here was to make the good money.

-almost entirely agricultural -plantations were abundant -a large part of the workforce was African slaves -plantations grew tobacco, rice, and indigo

-Slavery was legal -Children born to slaves became slave themselves -Sometimes families were broken apart and sold to other plantation owners -Enslaved people were often abused or beaten