Once tobacco was grown in the Colonies, plantations became very important to the economy of the southern colonies. Plantations also grew other cash crops like rice, and indigo. The first plantations were usually built along a river. The river was used as a highway to transport crops to market, and goods to the plantation. read more
The colonies developed prosperous economies based on the cultivation of cash crops, such as tobacco, indigo, and rice. A side effect of the cultivation of these crops was the presence of slavery in significantly higher proportions than in other parts of British America. read more
Instead, crops were traded. Crop buyers traveled up and down southern waterways with their boats filled with British made goods. Planters would trade their tobacco, rice and indigo for shoes, lace, thread, farm tools and dishes. read more