Southern Colonies

Definition

These were five British colonies located south along Atlantic coast - Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. They were known for their agricultural economy, particularly tobacco and rice cultivation.

Related terms

Triangular Trade: A system of trade during the colonial era that involved shipping goods from Britain to West Africa to be exchanged for slaves, these slaves being shipped to the West Indies and America (including Southern colonies), and then sugar, tobacco, and cotton being shipped back to Britain.

Staple Crops: Crops that are continuously in demand; in the Southern colonies these were primarily tobacco and rice.

Slave Codes: Laws passed by colonial assemblies to regulate slavery, reinforcing racial caste system in Southern colonies.