Question

- How did the institution of slavery affect the early colonies?

- What was the economy of the early colonies like?

- What examples of self-government did the colonists find themselves in?

- How did the isolation from Britain affect the colonies?

- Which colony was the most successful early on (in your opinion)?

Answer 1

1.
The colonists primarily bought enslaved Africans to the colonies as a means of providing labor power. Slaves were bought by while imperialists mostly to work on their agricultural industries such as plantations and tobacco fields. In a way, it could be said that, the white slave owners felt important only because there existed the 'slave culture'; the presence of a slave put the white slave owner on a pedestal and there were obscene levels of racism in the colonies.

2.
While the northern colonies mostly depended on trade , the southern colonies were into agriculture and production of cotton and tobacco. Endless availability of  natural resources, scarce labor and capital were the factors that helped in growth of the colonial economy, thus ensuring the white slave owners enjoyed a decent standard of living. What is to be remembered is that, the economy depended a lot on labor force during that time, and it was the black slaves that were the necessary means for the white slave owners to prosper. While Britain controlled all the trade and production laws of colonial goods.

3.
Examples of self-government within the colonies :
1. In plymouth, the colony was to be lead by a governor appointed by local colonial power rather than the english crown and a legislature elected locally.[The mayflower compact]
2. Self - government in the Canadian province in 1841.
3. Malta being a self-governing colony in 1921.

4.
Isolation from Britain helped the colonies in a myriad of ways :
1. They were not bound to trade laws under.
2. Economic growth could be controlled by themselves as production was not under British control anymore
3. The colonies could now reduce paying unfair taxes
4. Standards of living could improve as there was more self -control.

5.
In terms of being financially stable and having a good ongoing trade, Jamestown seemed to be the most successful early colony while, in terms of developing a culture and affecting the future, Plymouth was instrumental because of its installation of self government.