The Southern Economy Cash Crops Crop grown for
- Slides: 8
The Southern Economy
Cash Crops • Crop grown for profit • Ex – tobacco, rice, indigo
Plantations • Large commercial agricultural estate
Tobacco Imported by England 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1705 1715 1725 1735 1745 1755 1765 1775
Tobacco Imported by England 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1705 1715 1725 1735 1745 1755 1765 1775
Indentured Servants • • • Why were people leaving England? Religious freedom, looking for wealth What did these indentured servants get? Passage, clothes, food, work experience, sometimes land What did they have to give in return? Work for 3 -7 years Was this profitable venture for tobacco planters? Earn them more land, Indentured Servants pay for themselves five times over Was this a good system for the indentured servants? Yes – opportunity NO – some never reach end of contract, aren’t able to compete once free?
Southern Society • • • Planter Elite (gentry) Wealthy land owners (20 slaves) Backcountry farmers (yeoman) Owner of small farm w/ 4 or fewer slaves Indentured servants Agree to work for set amount of time in exchange for passage, food, & shelter • Enslaved A. A & N. A. • Captured and forced to work for free, zero rights • Slave codes
Planter Elite Yeoman Poor whites Indentured Enslaved
