Note: Your teacher will grade your responses to 13 and 14 to ensure you receive proper credit for your answers.
Describe the primary economic activity for each of the three colonial regions: the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies. Explain how the geography of each region helped determine its economy.
The primary economic activity for the New England Colonies was shipbuilding, fishing, and trading. The geography of the region, which consisted of rocky soil and a jagged coastline, made it difficult for the colonists to engage in large-scale agriculture. As a result, they turned to other economic activities such as fishing and trading. The region's abundance of natural resources such as lumber and fish facilitated the development of shipbuilding, which became a major industry in New England.
The primary economic activity for the Middle Colonies was farming. The region had fertile soil, a moderate climate, and a longer growing season compared to New England. These favorable geographical conditions allowed the Middle Colonies to engage in agriculture on a larger scale. The colonists cultivated crops such as wheat, barley, and oats, which were in high demand both locally and internationally. The Middle Colonies also became known for their production of livestock and dairy products.
The primary economic activity for the Southern Colonies was plantation farming, specifically the cultivation of cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo. The Southern Colonies had a warm climate, rich soil, and a long growing season, which were ideal for large-scale agricultural practices. The geography of the region, with its vast expanses of fertile land, encouraged the establishment of large plantations. As a result, the economy of the Southern Colonies was heavily dependent on slave labor and the production of cash crops for export to Europe.