Britain's Mercantilism and Southern Plantations

Smuggling

Illegal trade to avoid customs duties.

Navigation Acts

Laws regulating colonial trade to benefit Britain.

Customs Duties

Taxes on imports and exports collected by Britain.

Middle Passage

Voyage transporting enslaved Africans to the Americas.

Indentured Servants

Laborers working for passage repayment, not paid wages.

Labor-Intensive

Requires significant manual labor for production.

Subsistence Agriculture

Farming to meet only personal needs, not for sale.

Tobacco

Primary cash crop in Maryland and Virginia plantations.

Indigo

Cash crop in South Carolina, used for dye.

Rice

Main cash crop in South Carolina and Georgia.

Southern Colonies

Region with ideal conditions for plantation agriculture.

Wealth Accumulation

Process of increasing financial resources through trade.

Plantation Owners

Wealthy individuals managing large agricultural estates.

Flat Land

Geographical feature beneficial for large-scale farming.

Mercantilism

Economic theory prioritizing exports over imports.

Triangular Trade

Trade route between New England, Africa, and West Indies.

Plantation

Large estate focused on cash crop agriculture.

Cash Crops

Crops grown for sale and profit, like tobacco.

Enslaved People

Individuals forced to work without compensation.

African Americans

Descendants of enslaved Africans in the Americas.

Growing Season

Period suitable for crop cultivation in a region.

Plantations

Large farms primarily in Southern Colonies.

Enslaved Labor

Human labor used predominantly in Southern plantations.

New England Farms

Smaller, requiring fewer workers for half the year.

Plantation Mansion

Main house located on hills near water.

Enslaved Living Conditions

Poor, often in small shacks with dirt floors.

Community and Culture

Unique blend of African and European customs.

Religious Practices

Combined Christianity with African or Islamic customs.

Music

Cultural expression combining African and European traditions.

Field Hands

Laborers working long hours in fields.

House Workers

Enslaved individuals serving in the plantation house.

Skilled Artisans

Enslaved individuals with specialized trade skills.

Living Conditions

Field hands and skilled workers often similar.

Josiah Henson

Former enslaved African American who documented experiences.

Treatment of Enslaved

Varied from gifts to abuse for obedience.

Abuse Methods

Included whippings, threats, and reduced rations.

Legal Restrictions

Laws limiting rights of enslaved individuals.

Education Restrictions

Illegal to teach enslaved persons to read.

Community Support

Tight-knit groups aiding each other in struggles.

Coping Mechanisms

Music and community helped endure hardships.

Living Quarters

Field hands lived in small, shared log huts.

Privileges of House Workers

Fewer hours but more direct control by enslavers.