Southern Colonies Virginia Founded by John Smith in 1607

1. Southern ColoniesVirginia Founded by John Smith in 1607 Presented by: Lucas Haller and Tori Meyer

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.