Southern Colonies

Geography 

The southern colonies were made up of mostly coastal  plains and piedmont areas. The soil was good for farming and the climate was warm, including hot summers and mild winters: long growing season. The growing season here was longer than any other  region.  

Political

The Southern colonies' political system was organized around farms and wealthy landowners. Those who owned land and were wealthy held the most power. At the lowest part of society were enslaved people who were excluded from society in every way, and had no political power. 

Economics

Due to the rich soil and the warm weather, the Southern Colonies were perfect for large farms called plantations. Plantations were huge, almost like towns of their own, and required many workers. Plantations had to be tended to all year long and there were several jobs on plantations. Plantation owners used indentured servants and slaves from Africa to work the fields. Their plantations would not have been successful if there hadn’t been so many people working there to get the cash crops harvested. Slaves also worked within the main house as servants to the plantation owner’s family. Plantation owners were the wealthiest families in the southern colonies.  

Social

Most plantations provided everything the family and workers would need throughout the year, which  was why plantations were spread so far apart. They were also usually along the coastal plains, near the ocean or rivers to help with shipping their cash crops to other colonies or countries. Wealthy families who lived on plantations often had private teachers who taught children to read and write. There were few big cities because more people's lives were completely contained on or near the nearest plantation.