The Southern Colonies and Plantation Life — Reading Comprehension

The Southern Colonies were part of the thirteen colonies in America. These colonies included Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. People started moving to these areas in the early 1600s. The land in the South was warm and rich. This made it good for farming.

Many people in the Southern Colonies built plantations. A plantation is a large farm where crops are grown. Farmers grew tobacco, rice, and indigo. These crops were called cash crops because they were sold for money. Plantations needed many workers. At first, some workers were indentured servants. They worked for a set number of years to pay off a debt. Later, many workers were enslaved Africans. They were forced to work and had no freedom.

Plantation owners became very rich from selling crops. They built large houses with many rooms. But life was very hard for the workers. Enslaved people worked long hours in the fields. They also cooked, cleaned, and cared for animals. Some tried to keep their cultures alive with songs and stories. A law from 1661 said, "All servants... imported and brought into the Country... who were not Christians in their native Country... shall be accounted and be slaves." This law made slavery a part of life in the Southern Colonies.

Over time, the Southern Colonies grew. More people came to farm and trade. Towns were built near rivers for easy shipping. The system of plantations shaped life in the South for many years.

Interesting Fact: Some of the oldest trees in America still stand today on land that was once a Southern plantation.

Which was NOT a Southern Colony?

What crops did plantations grow?

When did people start moving to the South?

Why was the South good for farming?

How did plantations shape Southern life?

What did enslaved people do on plantations?

Plantation owners built big houses. True or false?

What does 'indentured servant' mean?