Colonial Economy An Overview. Agriculture 90% of economy Crops varied from one geographical region to next.

Colonial EconomyAn Overview

Agriculture

90% of economyCrops varied from one geographical

region to next

New England Colonies

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

Connecticut

New Hampshire

Economy in New England

Founded by Puritans

Rocky soil, short growing season - lead to cattle raising, fishermen

Fish = (export commodity)

Manufactured Goods and RUM!

Middle Colonies

New York

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

Delaware

Economy in Middle Colonies

Rich soil, industrious families

Cash Crops: wheat, barley and rye

New York - Wheat exports replace fur trade

Manufactured Goods: guns, glass, clocks, iron

Dutch Fur Trade

Trading posts along Hudson

Fort Orange - Albany

Beaver Skins - very valuable

Rich families given estates called Patroons

1664 - English take over New Netherlands from unpopular Dutch governor Peter Stuyvesant

Southern Colonies

Maryland

Virginia

North Carolina

South Carolina

Georgia

Economy in Southern Colonies

1612 - John Rolfe developed marketable tobacco

1720’s - Rice thrives in Carolina lowlands

Expanded plantations, acquired more slaves

Economy in South

1740’s - Indigo (blue dye) became most valuable commodity tobacco, rice

Eliza Lucas Pinckney - perfected strain of indigo grown in South

Triangular Trade

From Colonies to Europe - Rum, tobacco, lumber, etc.

From Europe to Colonies - Manufactured goods

From Colonies to Africa - rum and guns

From Africa to Caribbean - slaves

From Caribbean to Colonies - sugar, slaves

From Colonies to Caribbean - flour, fish, etc.