Did the Southern Colonies have Religious Freedom?

The Southern Colonies wanted to be a utopia, but there were still some human rights being violated for women, Native Americans, blacks, and poor white people. They had religious freedom in Maryland, and they set up an ideal society without slavery or alcohol in Georgia. However, society was very different from that in terms of ways of living and work conditions. Native Americans (Cherokee and Muscogee Creek) either ran away, became slaves, or were killed when the colonists came. Africans were kidnapped and sent to the New World, where they became slaves.

Their families were separated, and they weren’t allowed to do their traditions. Poor white people were indentured servants who had to pay off their debt. Women of all races were treated unfairly, sexually and physically harassed, and not paid for their work. Even though they said it was religious freedom, it wasn’t because they did not let the Africans or Native Americans practice their religions. Christians got religious freedom, but Catholics were a minority and that meant that they had less power. Rich white men had more rights than anyone else, and they got what they wanted.

Workers

Slaves were mostly black people from Africa and some Native Americans. Their home life and working conditions were very dystopian because their homes were small and fit up to 10 people per house. They did not get paid and had to work no matter what, hot or cold, or even if they were sick. They also were discriminated against and were harassed. And they couldn’t leave! The indentured servants were from England and were white. Because of that, they had it a bit better. Although they worked in the same conditions as the slaves, they lived in small huts and sturdy cabins, and they could leave after they paid off their debt. Another level up, people would be artisans. They got better working conditions, like sleeping in cabins and houses. Their work was less hard; they made clothes, tools, shoes, and food, like corn, fish, sugar, and rice. They also got paid! Plus, they were free to move at any time. The top-notch plantation owners. They were very wealthy. Although they had to pay people, they earned enough to pay them and afford a plantation house.

Economy

England founded the Southern Colonies for money. The economy and money-making consisted of very few things. For instance, the cash crops were only five things: cotton, tobacco, rice, sugar, and indigo. The colonists made clothes with cotton and dyed them with indigo. They smoked tobacco, cooked with rice, and made sweets with sugar. England didn’t have the right climate to grow those crops. The colonists traded all those things with England for books because they didn’t have printing presses and fancy clothing because they didn’t have silk. The colonists also sent silver and slaves to England.

Geography and Climate

In the Southern Colonies, the climate was good for growing cash crops because it was warm enough but not too warm–the Goldilocks zone. They had a long growing season, and it wasn’t too bad in the winter. There were nutrients in the soil, which was very moist. There were long rivers that watered the ground. Because of the climate, they were able to grow food and crops on the plantations. There were very few towns, so there was more room for plantations.

Goverment

In Maryland, the King of England assigned George Calvert and his family to have ownership over a certain part of the land. That was called a Proprietary Colony. George Calvert said that there could be religious freedom for Catholics. The King owned all of the Royal Colonies (Virginia, Georgia, and North and South Carolina). The Royal Colonies did stuff to support the King. The King made the governors be there in the Royal Colonies, and then the governors supported the King.

Important people

Important people included plantation owners because they made it so that they had food. The leader of Carolina was named Anthony Ashley-Cooper. As for Virginia, Sir William Berkeley was their leader. Maryland’s leader was George Calvert, followed by Lord Baltimore. Finally, for Georgia, James Oglethorpe was the founder and leader.

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