Early American Economy
Aligned to C3.D2.Eco — C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.
What this lesson teaches
Colonial regions had different economies based on geography: farming in the South, trade and crafts in the North. Scarcity forced choices about what to produce and trade.
Worked example
Southern colonies' warm climate and large farms favored cash crops like tobacco, traded to Europe; New England's harbors favored shipping and fishing.
Practice questions
- How did geography shape a region's economy?
- What is scarcity, and how does it force choices?
- Why did colonies trade with each other and Europe?
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
La Economía de los Primeros Tiempos de América
Las regiones coloniales tenían economías distintas según su geografía: agricultura en el Sur, comercio y artesanías en el Norte. La escasez obligó a tomar decisiones sobre qué producir y qué intercambiar.
Ejemplo: El clima cálido y las grandes haciendas de las colonias del sur favorecían cultivos comerciales como el tabaco, que se exportaba a Europa; los puertos de Nueva Inglaterra favorecían el transporte marítimo y la pesca.
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