New England Colonies
What natural resources supported shipbuilding in New England?
Forests provided timber.
What nickname was given to the Middle Colonies because of their grain production?
The Breadbasket Colonies.
What cash crop made Virginia very wealthy?
Tobacco.
What is an indentured servant?
A person who worked for a set number of years in exchange for passage to the colonies.
How did New England’s geography shape its economy?
Poor soil led to reliance on fishing, shipbuilding, and trade.
Why was farming difficult in New England?
The soil was rocky and the climate was cold.
What was the climate and soil like in the Middle Colonies?
Mild climate and fertile soil.
Why did Southern Colonies use enslaved Africans more than other regions?
Because large plantations needed a lot of labor.
Who were forced to work on Southern plantations without freedom?
Enslaved Africans.
How did the Middle Colonies use rivers and ports in their economy?
They shipped grains and other goods for trade.
What industry involved hunting whales in New England?
Whaling.
What major cities in the Middle Colonies became trade centers?
Philadelphia and New York City.
What was the weather and soil like in the South?
Warm climate and rich, fertile soil.
What kind of labor was most common in New England?
Family labor.
Why was the South ideal for growing cash crops?
It had a long growing season and fertile soil.
What type of farming did most families in New England practice?
Subsistence farming
Which two labor systems were used on farms in the Middle Colonies?
Indentured servants and enslaved Africans.
What type of large farms were common in the Southern Colonies?
Plantations.
What region used the most enslaved labor?
Southern Colonies.
How did climate affect what colonists could grow or trade?
Different climates allowed for different crops and industries.
What major ocean activity supported the New England economy?
Fishing and trade.
Name one common crop grown in the Middle Colonies.
Wheat, oats, or barley.
Name two crops grown on plantations in the South.
Tobacco and rice (or indigo).
What agreement did indentured servants make to come to the colonies?
They agreed to work for several years in return for transportation and land or money
Why did different colonies develop different economies?
Because of differences in geography, climate, and available resources.