Plantation Agriculture

Definition

Plantation agriculture refers to large-scale agricultural production on estates or plantations, typically specializing in the cultivation of cash crops like tobacco, cotton, or sugar. These plantations were worked by enslaved labor and played a significant role in shaping the economies and social structures of the colonies.

Related terms

Cash Crops: Cash crops are agricultural products that are grown specifically for sale rather than for personal consumption. Examples include tobacco, cotton, and sugar.

Enslaved Labor: Enslaved labor refers to individuals who were forced into bondage and made to work without pay on plantations. They were treated as property and had limited rights.

Economic Dependency: Economic dependency is when an economy relies heavily on one particular industry or resource. In this case, plantation agriculture created economic dependency on cash crop production within the colonies.