Occupations , Industry, and Economy in Colonial America
Northern Colonies
This picture describes the newly created and dominating Colonial American merchant fleet.
The occupations and industry of Colonial America are very broad. They also are very different when one compares the northern colonies and the southern colonies. In the north, many of the colonists were of the upper class. They owned companies, were political bosses, and were established in one of the largest merchant fleets in the world. Soil in the north was another reason why regional differences were created between the northern and southern colonies in colonial America. The infertile northern soil caused the north to become more industrialized while the other southern colonies were more focused on farming and subsistant living. This infertile soil also led to the creation of the first American industries. Many people built ships and this called for the manufacturing of timber, sails, and many other materials. These are just a few of the many northern colonial occupations and industries of the time period.
Southern Colonies
This large plantation depicts the white man watching his slaves perform the harvest of tobacco.
Unlike in the neighboring colonies to the north, the southern parts of the English colonies were more relateable to the common man. These people were normally of poorer class and owned small farms that were usually separated by a few miles. Despite the large stereotype, most of the southerners in the early to late colonial years did not own any slaves. At first, slaves were not considered savages and many did not know how to treat them; people questioned whether they were like indentured servants or people with absolutely no rights. People also preferred the white men and women in the indentured servitude program to perform their work. The most profitable and first major cash crop in America was tobacco. Most farmers in the south trying to make a profit quickly began expanding their plantation and growing large amounts of tobacco. Tobacco farming and farming in general was the most popular occupation and as new technology was created, the industry in the south also picked up. Although this it true, the industry in the south never came close to matching the northern colonies during the colonial time period in America.
Slaves and Natives
Slavery was not introduced into the colonies until around the 18th Century. They were mostly used as servants and then laborers around plantations. They were sometimes treated very harshly by their owners who made them work long hours with little food and shelter. Some owners, however, treated their slaves with respect and did not abuse them. Natives were also a part of colonial life in America. Most of these tribes intermingled with the settlements created by colonists, even though they were discriminated against. They lived a simple life with very few advancements compared to England. Supplies were sometimes traded between the two in the beginning and many natives helped teach the colonists tactics for living on certain types of land. These natives survived in large tribes based around hunting and fishing. As time passed, they would soon learn that the colonists' settlements were growing and this would create conflicts between the two groups. The occupations for slaves and natives were very limited throughout the colonies in America