The Southern Colonies
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina
California - History/Social Science 5.4 Students understand the political, religious, social, and economic institutions that
evolved in the colonial era.
California – English/Language Arts 1.0. WORD ANALYSIS, FLUENCY, AND SYSTEMATIC VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT: Students use
their knowledge of word origins and word relationships, as well as historical and literary context clues, both to determine the
meaning of specialized vocabulary and to understand the precise meaning of grade-level-appropriate words.
Background Information
• Some Southern Colonies were settled for religious reasons, but
most were settled for economic opportunity.
• Early settlers found that the land in the Southern Colonies
was good for growing cash crops (tobacco plants, indigo, rice).
• So much help was needed to grow these crops that slavery became
institutionalized .
• Planters, overseers, and slaves lived on large plantations.
• Due to the large agricultural production in the Southern
Colonies and its dependence on African slaves, the Southern
Colonies were part of the triangular trade routes.
Key Vocabulary
Economic Opportunity
Sample Sentence: Some
Southern Colonies were
settled for religious reasons,
but most were settled for
economic opportunity.
Graphic Organizer: Use
the picture and the
examples that you were
given to explain economic
opportunity in your own
words. Be sure to write
down your description on
your vocabulary page.
Economic Opportunity Definition
Check how well your predicted definition matches
the actual definition for economic opportunity.
Economic Opportunity is the chance to
earn more money to make a better life.
With a partner, come up with a motion for
economic opportunity. Think about how you can
show the meaning of the word just using your
hands.
Key Vocabulary
Cash Crops
Sample Sentence: Early
settlers found that the
land in the Southern
Colonies was good for
growing cash crops
(tobacco plants, indigo,
rice).
Use the picture and the
examples that you were
given to explain cash
crops in your own words.
Be sure to write down
your description on your
vocabulary page.
Cash Crops Definition
Check how well your predicted definition matches
the actual definition for cash crops.
Cash Crops are crops that grow well in
certain areas and, when sold, provide
their planters with large sums of
money.
With a partner, come up with a motion for cash
crops. Think about how you can show the
meaning of the word just using your hands.
Key Vocabulary
Institutionalized
Sample Sentence: So much help
was needed to grow these crops
that slavery became
institutionalized.
Use the picture and the
examples that you were given
to explain institutionalized in
your own words. Be sure to
write down your description
on your vocabulary page.
Institutionalized Definition
Check how well your predicted definition matches the
actual definition for institutionalized.
Something that is insitutionalized
is a part of everyday life and law.
Take a moment to think about some things that have been
institutionalized in your everyday life. Talk about them with
a partner. How many can you think of?
Key Vocabulary
Plantation
Planter
Sample Sentence: Planters, overseers,
and slaves lived on large plantations.
Overseer
Use the picture and the examples
that you were given to explain
plantation, planter, and overseer in
your own words. Be sure to write
down your description on your
vocabulary page.
Plantation, Planter, and Overseer
Definitions
Check how well your predicted definition matches the actual definition
for plantation, planter, and overseer.
Plantation – A large estate or farm on which crops are raised
Planter – Plantation owners who often became very rich
Overseer – White men hired by the wealthy planters to
watch over the slaves while they worked
Think and Talk – Why do you think that all of these words are on the same slide?
Hint – What is the common thread running throughout these words?
Key Vocabulary
Triangular Trade Routes
Sample Sentence: Due to the large
agricultural production in the
Southern Colonies and its
dependence on African slaves, the
Southern Colonies were part of the
triangular trade routes.
Use the picture and the examples
that you were given to explain
triangular trade routes in your own
words. Be sure to write down your
description on your vocabulary page.
Triangular Trade Routes Definition
Check how well your predicted definition matches the
actual definition for triangular trade routes.
Triangular Trade Routes – pathway across the
Atlantic Ocean between North America, Africa,
and Europe in which goods, including slaves, were
exchanged
Look back at the map showing triangular trade
routes. Why do you think that these pathways are
called triangular trade routes?
Put on Your SPECtacles
Using the cut out word cards that you have, please categorize your
new vocabulary words under social, political, economic, or cultural.
Be prepared to share WHY you chose to put your word cards where
you did!
Example:
Social:
Political:
Economic:
Cash Crops
Cultural:
I choose to put the words cash crops under the word economic, because
cash crops refer to money.
Sample Vocabulary Graphic Organizer
Word
Predicted Meaning
Final Meaning