There were two different groups in the elite planter class. What distinguished these groups?
1.education level
2.how many generations had money
3.their location
4.the crops they planted
The distinguishing factors between the two different groups in the elite planter class were their location and the crops they planted.
1. Location: One group of elite planters was based in the Southern states, particularly in areas like Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia. These wealthy planters owned large plantations and relied heavily on enslaved labor for their agricultural operations. The other group was located primarily in the northern states, such as New England and New York. Their plantations were smaller in size and often worked by free labor.
2. Crops: The Southern elite planters primarily cultivated cash crops such as rice, indigo, and most prominently, tobacco and later cotton. These crops were labor-intensive and required a large workforce, leading to the reliance on the institution of slavery. In contrast, the Northern elite planters focused on staple crops like wheat, corn, oats, and barley, which did not require as much labor and were often grown for self-sufficiency rather than commercial purposes.
It is worth noting that while education level and generational wealth could also be determining factors in distinguishing these groups, they were not as universally applicable as location and crops. Education level varied within both groups, and while generational wealth played a role, it was not exclusive to either group.