The Plantation System Essay

The plantation system:

The Plantation systems were created in the American south. The first plantations were in Virginia and Maryland where they grew tobacco. Tobacco was mostly grown by aristocrats living in estates. But this did not mean life was easy. The average 17th century plantations were hard to live on and small. They were usually made on small clearings of land were the owners and indentured servants lived. The conditions were very harsh, and it was not uncommon for people to die. A lot of people lived in small houses and cabins. Also living was very hard because of the economy. The economy was very unstable. When prices fell it could cause devasting results for some planters. Farmers were unable to control their own market. So

During early years of colonization, each new settlement would make an agreement binding of all the members to the town religiously and socially. These villages were arranged with houses and meeting houses around a shared pasture or “common”. Most families lived with their neighbors close by. The early puritan community was very close. The land was divided by the number of people within a family, their wealth, and their social status. Each town would hold yearly “town meetings” where they chose “selectmen” to run their town. Only people who could give evidence of being part of the elect that was guaranteed salvation were allowed to have full church services. Only men who were part of the church could go to the meetings. Yet everyone was still required to go to church. A father was required to divide up his land amongst his sons. This power of inheritance gave him a lot of control over his family. Although, as time went on strains and tensions affected the community. In the first generations of Puritans, fathers had enough land to give all of their sons. But after a few generations, there was not enough to land to go around. They were also unable to push out because their town was surrounded by other towns. So sons ended up moving away and starting their communities. Thus becoming less religious, causing the puritan community to