Southern Colonies Virginia
Founded by John Smith in 1607
Presented by: Lucas Haller and Tori Meyer
Geographical Characteristics and Climate
• The Southern Colonies has rivers, bays, and wetlands.
• The climate and soil of the tidewater were excellent for farming.
• The southern Colonies had rich soil, had a long growing season, and had a warm and damp climate.
REASON FOR SETTLEMENT
• The first colonists came to Virginia to search for gold.
• When they realized that there was no gold there many started plantations on the rich soil of the tidewater.
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
• The Virginia colonists were Anglicans.
• Going to church was an important affair.
• People think it should be a all day event.
• Puritans, Quakers, and others who were not Anglican had to leave the colony.
GOVERNMENT
• As Virginia grew, colonists wanted to have a voice in the laws of the colony.
• In 1619, colonists created the first elected legislature in the colonies.
• Colonists elected the Burgesses but only planters and other white men who owned were allowed to vote or be elected.
• In 1632, the House of Burgesses made the Anglican Church the official church of Virginia.
EDUCATION
• Most children were educated at home.
• Children learned how to read and write only if their parents could teach them.
• Their parents hired teachers to instruct the children in reading, writing, dancing, and music.
AGRICULTURE\ MANUFACTURING
• They sold crops to earn money like tobacco, rice, wheat, and corn.
• They also grew indigo which was very hard to grow and had little success.
• Cash crops grew very well.
SETTLEMENTS\HOMES
• In the backcountry their houses were simple wooden cabins to most farming families who lived west of the tidewater.
• Most of theirs belongings were made by hand or traded from others.
• The planters family usually lived in a grand mansion and they were often decorated with fine furniture.
• A plantation is a large farm on which crops are raised by workers who live on the farm.
TOWNS\CITIES
• One of Virginia’s towns and cities is Jamestown.
• Another one of Virginia's towns and cities is Williamsburg.
• The last town and city in Virginia is Richmond.
OTHER INTERESTING FACTS
• In 1607, Virginia became the first permanent English colony in North America.
• The children of wealthy planters lived fairly easy lives.
• Most plantation workers were indentured servants or enslaved Africans.
• Many plantation owners, or planters became wealthy by growing and selling cash crops such as tobacco and rice.
IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO KNOW
• John Smith and others were important people to know because they founded Virginia.
• Also, colonists were important people to know because they elected the Burgesses to make laws.