Question

Imagine that you are a plantation owner in one of the southern colonies or the British West Indies in the 17th century (1600-1699). Write an account as if you were a typical planter, using the first person "I." Begin by identifying your colony and providing the date of your story, ensuring it is at least 10 years after the founding of your colony. Explain how you acquired your land and describe the export crops you cultivate. Detail your labor force, including how you obtained the workers, and elucidate the labor system you have in place. The narrative should be typical, representative, and realistic, avoiding the portrayal of a colony owner but rather that of an ordinary colonist.

Answer 1

During the 17th century in the Southern colonies and British West Indies, plantation owners acquired land through various means and cultivated export crops such as tobacco, sugar, and cotton. Initially, they relied on indentured servants, but the demand for labor led to the increased importation of African slaves. Plantations were generally owned by wealthy Europeans, with labor being seasonal and focused on peak planting and harvest times.

Step-by-step explanation:

As a plantation owner in the Southern colonies or the British West Indies during the 17th century, I would acquire land through various means such as land grants from the crown or by purchasing land from other colonists. In terms of export crops, I would primarily cultivate tobacco, sugar, and cotton. Tobacco was a major cash crop in the Chesapeake colonies, while sugar became the dominant crop in the British West Indies. Cotton also gained popularity in the Southern colonies later in the century.

For labor, I would rely initially on indentured servants, who were European immigrants that agreed to work for a set number of years in exchange for passage to the colony. However, the demand for labor soon exceeded the availability of indentured servants, leading to the increased importation of African slaves. Slavery became the dominant labor system in the Southern colonies and the British West Indies by the end of the 17th century.

As a typical planter, my plantation would be owned by a wealthy European who may or may not live on the plantation. The labor on the plantation would usually be seasonal, with a high demand for workers during peak planting and harvest times.