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Southern Colonies. Chapter 3. Maryland. Cecil Calvert was a Catholic Englishman who founded Maryland along with both Catholics & Protestants. America’s 1 st law guaranteeing religious freedom was passed here in 1649.
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Southern Colonies Chapter 3
Maryland Cecil Calvert was a Catholic Englishman who founded Maryland along with both Catholics & Protestants. America’s 1st law guaranteeing religious freedom was passed here in 1649. Catholics in Maryland worshipped freely & took part in government alongside Protestants.
Virginia Since the economy of Virginia was based on tobacco, planters needed a large number of workers. At first, they tried putting Indians to work, but they weren’t used to farming & many died of European diseases.
Virginia Tobacco planters also tried bringing poor people from England. In exchange for free passage to Virginia, workers agreed to become indentured servants for 5-7 years. After completing their service, they were given freedom & a small plot of land, clothing, tools & seeds.
Virginia Gradually, however, planters turned to slaves for labor. Slaves cost twice as much as indentured servants, but they did not leave after a few years. In 1661, Virginia’s government passed a law making African workers slaves for life. Slavery was now a way of life in Virginia.
Georgia Georgia, the 13th & last colony, was established to help poor people in England stay out of debtor’s prison. In England at this time, people who couldn’t pay their bills went to jail.
Georgia Unfortunately, many poor debtors felt it was safer in prison than in the wilderness of North America. James Oglethorpe established Georgia in 1732 along with adventurers & Protestants, Catholics & Jews seeking religious freedom.