Maryland was founded by English Catholics seeking religious freedom led by George Calvert. It was carefully planned to avoid failure. Tobacco became a major cash crop, though most colonists struggled as indentured servants on farms. In 1649, Maryland passed the Toleration Act allowing religious freedom for Christians. Colonists then moved south, establishing the Carolinas with a written constitution. The colony became too large and split into North and South Carolina. Georgia was founded to gain control of the area, settling debtors who had to defend the land but could start anew, though slavery was eventually allowed and plantations increased. Settlers also moved westward for more land.

1. 7.1 – SETTLING THE
SOUTH

2. MARYLAND
• Founded by the Calvert family, rich
English land owners
• English Catholics who wanted religious
freedom and $$$!
• George Calvert (Lord Baltimore) funded
the expedition
• Colony was planned VERY carefully to
make sure it wouldn’t fail

3. ANALYZE THIS:
• The men in this picture are
carrying a cross as
Maryland is founded. What
does this say about the
people that settled
Maryland?

4. LIFE IN MARYLAND
AND VIRGINIA
• Tobacco was major cash
crop
• Most struggled as
indentured servants on
farms
• 1649 – Maryland passes the
Toleration Act, allowing
religious freedom to all
Christians in Maryland

5. THE CAROLINA
COLONIES
• Maryland and Virginia were
getting crowded, so colonists
moved south to get more
land.
• Lords Proprietors led the
colony and created a
constitution (written plan of
government)
• Was located south of Virginia
all the way down to Spanish
Florida
• Colony was too big and no
one followed the laws; split
into North and South Carolina

6. GEORGIA
• King wanted to gain control of the area south of
the Carolinas
• James Oglethorpe decided to send debtors to the
colony
• Debtor – someone who has been put in prison
for owing money
• These settlers had to defend the land but
could start a new life
• Farms did NOT allow slavery at first, but eventually
did, which increased the number of plantations

7. HEADING WEST
• Some farmers moved west due to
crowding along the coast.
• Many moved to the Piedmont – land
between coastal plain and the
Appalachian Mountains
• Great Wagon Road provided route all
across the southern colonies for settlers
to move into the Piedmont.

8. CONFLICTS WITH
NATIVE AMERICANS
• European settlers took control of
more and more Native American
land
• Some settlers destroyed Native
American villages to build their
own settlements
• Tuscarora Natives attacked many
settlements over 3 years, but 1,000
of them were killed or sent into
slavery
• Natives were forced to move
West….again.

10. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
• What role did enslaved Africans play in the Southern
Colonies economy?
• Why was it hard to reach the back country (Piedmont)?
• Why did families in the back country have to be self-
sufficient?
• Why might people have wanted to settle in the back
country?