What Each Region Sold and Traded — Reading Comprehension

The Southern Colonies played a big role in trade during colonial America. These colonies included Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The land and weather were perfect for growing crops. Colonists used the land to farm large fields called plantations.

The most important crops grown in the South were called cash crops. These included tobacco, rice, and indigo. People grew these crops to sell, not just for their families. Tobacco was the first cash crop and quickly became very popular. Colonists shipped tobacco to England and other countries. As one colonist wrote, “Tobacco is our chief wealth.”

Rice also became an important crop, especially in South Carolina and Georgia. The wet lands near rivers were just right for rice fields. Indigo was another valuable crop. Indigo is a plant that makes blue dye. Colonists used it to color cloth and sold it for a good price. Eliza Lucas Pinckney helped make indigo famous in South Carolina.

Growing these crops took a lot of hard work. Plantations were very large, so colonists needed many workers. They used enslaved Africans and indentured servants to plant, tend, and pick the crops. This helped plantation owners grow more crops and trade more goods.

Once the crops were picked, they were packed in barrels and loaded onto ships. The ships sailed from busy ports like Charleston and Savannah. These ports were filled with people buying and selling goods. Merchants traded crops for things the colonies needed, such as tools, cloth, and tea. This trade helped the colonies grow richer and stronger.

The Southern Colonies traded with the other colonies, England, and the West Indies. This trade was important because it brought new goods and money into the region. It also connected the Southern Colonies to the rest of the world. Many families depended on trade for their way of life.

Over time, the trade of crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo shaped the South. It changed how people lived and worked. Trade made the Southern Colonies important in colonial America.

Interesting Fact: In 1739, South Carolina shipped almost one million pounds of indigo to England!

Which colonies grew cash crops?

What was the first cash crop?

Who helped make indigo famous?

Why did colonists need many workers?

How did trade help the colonies?

Why were ports important?

Trade made the Southern Colonies important. True or false?

What does 'plantations' mean?