Chapter 3: Colonial
Ways of Life
Section 1
The Southern Economy
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The southern economy was based on
commercial agriculture.
The main cash crop was tobacco while
rice and indigo was also grown.
Large plantations were an effect of the
possible riches of growing cash crops.
The geography of Virginia was perfect
for growing tobacco.
The Southern Economy
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Lack of laborers was a key problem for
farmers in the early years.
Indentured servantry was a system
used to help with the labor force.
Southern Society
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Two distinct social groups emerged in
the South.
The wealthy landowner enjoyed
enormous economic and political
influence.
Many of the wealthy copied the
fashions and lifestyle of England’s
upper class.
Due to this economic success the
Southern Society
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The smaller, poor farmers were a
much larger group of people who lived
tough lives.
They had to concentrate their farming
on food to feed their families.
Many of the poor farmers died due to
disease, hunger, or weather.
Bacon’s Rebellion
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Due to taxes and voting rights the
poor were fed up.
The wealthy in Virginia didn’t want the
poor to take Native American lands
fearing war.
The poor took matters into their own
hands and started battling the Native
Americans.
Bacon’s Rebellion
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Nathanial Bacon joined the poor because of
the Native American threat.
Bacon then lead his troops into Jamestown
to demand more reform
He died and the rebellion ended.
Due to the rebellion Virginia took more land
to keep the poor happy and slavery
increased to keep servants out.
Slavery in the Colonies
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Enslaved Africans were put into ships on the
West African Coast and sent to the Americas
on the Middle Passage.
The quarters on the ship were cramp and
inhumane.
In the beginning many Africans were
treated like indentured servants gaining
freedom by adopting Christianity.
Slavery in the Colonies
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By 1705 laws were set up to regulated
and defined slavery.
Due to these laws the slaves lost most
rights and became nothing more than
property of their owners.