What kind of economy was predominantly established in the southern colonies?

The southern colonies predominantly established a plantation-based economy focused on cash crops due to their climate and geography. The warm, humid conditions were ideal for growing crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo, which required extensive land and labor. This led to the development of large plantations that relied heavily on enslaved labor to maximize productivity and profitability. The reliance on cash crops to fuel economic growth made the southern colonies significantly different from other regions, where diverse agricultural practices or industrial activities took precedence. This cash crop economy shaped not only the social and economic structures of the south but also its interactions with other regions and the importation of enslaved Africans to meet labor demands.