THE Southern colonies: maryland
by maddie sass
Geographic Elements:
Being a southern colony, Maryland is made up of coastal plain and piedmont. It is mostly to moderately fertile with a 5 to 9 month growing season. Also, this colony makes most of its profit from its main crop, tobacco. Other than tobacco, Maryland had cattle and grew grain, wheat, and corn.
Political Elements:
Maryland was founded by George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, when he was given Maryland as land from Charles I of England.
Religious Elements:
Maryland was established in 1632 as a Catholic refuge. Originally, both Catholics and Protestants were encouraged to live in this colony. When the Calvert's soon realized that the Catholics would be the minority, the Maryland Toleration Act was passed in 1649. This act stated that all Christians had the right to worship. However, this act did not provide true protections for Catholics. This act caused conflict and tensions between Catholics and Protestants during the English Civil War.
Socio-Economic Elements:
Economically, Maryland was financially supported by its main cash crop, tobacco. Because Lord Baltimore granted large estates to his relatives, a distinct upper class formed. The headright system was adopted in order to cope with the labor shortages in 1640. This system granted 100 acres to each male settler, 100 acres to his wife and each of their servants, and then 50 acres for each of their children. These settlers were known as indentured servants from England, that were "bribed" to help with labor shortages. To help the colony with profit with its cash crop, tobacco, planters worked with indentured servants to work the land. Later on in the late 17th century, slaves that were imported from Africa took the place of the indentured servants in working the land.
Being a southern colony, Maryland is made up of coastal plain and piedmont. It is mostly to moderately fertile with a 5 to 9 month growing season. Also, this colony makes most of its profit from its main crop, tobacco. Other than tobacco, Maryland had cattle and grew grain, wheat, and corn.
Political Elements:
Maryland was founded by George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, when he was given Maryland as land from Charles I of England.
Religious Elements:
Maryland was established in 1632 as a Catholic refuge. Originally, both Catholics and Protestants were encouraged to live in this colony. When the Calvert's soon realized that the Catholics would be the minority, the Maryland Toleration Act was passed in 1649. This act stated that all Christians had the right to worship. However, this act did not provide true protections for Catholics. This act caused conflict and tensions between Catholics and Protestants during the English Civil War.
Socio-Economic Elements:
Economically, Maryland was financially supported by its main cash crop, tobacco. Because Lord Baltimore granted large estates to his relatives, a distinct upper class formed. The headright system was adopted in order to cope with the labor shortages in 1640. This system granted 100 acres to each male settler, 100 acres to his wife and each of their servants, and then 50 acres for each of their children. These settlers were known as indentured servants from England, that were "bribed" to help with labor shortages. To help the colony with profit with its cash crop, tobacco, planters worked with indentured servants to work the land. Later on in the late 17th century, slaves that were imported from Africa took the place of the indentured servants in working the land.