The Southern Colonies had an economic system based on agricultural cash crop plantations.
The Southern Colonies of British North America were created during the 16th and 17th centuries, and consisted of South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and Georgia. They were originally created during the race for colonies against Spain and France, which also had territories in North America. These were agricultural, fertile areas that cultivated rice, indigo, tobacco and other crops. The plantations worked by African slaves were more in the coastal areas and were run by aristocratic families. More inland, against the mountains, free farmers lived and worked with a more democratic attitude.
