Geography
North Carolina is located near the middle of the Southern colonies and borders the Atlantic ocean to the east. To the north is Virginia and to the south is South Carolina. The Carolinas were split into the north and south in 1729 after Charles II established them in 1663 to keep the French and the Spanish out, where it was a proprietary colony.
Although North Carolina does border the Atlantic Ocean, it did not have many harbors. Since the soil was spoiled and lacked nutrients, it was difficult to farm and grow crops. The combination of these factors caused North Carolina to be less prosperous than South Carolina.
Although North Carolina does border the Atlantic Ocean, it did not have many harbors. Since the soil was spoiled and lacked nutrients, it was difficult to farm and grow crops. The combination of these factors caused North Carolina to be less prosperous than South Carolina.
Political Features
The proprietors of Carolina created a representative assembly which failed. In 1669, the Fundamental Constitution for Carolina was drawn with aid from philosopher John Locke. It divided the colony into counties of equal size and created a social hierarchy with the proprietors at the top, than an aristocracy of lesser nobles, then the common folk. On the bottom were poor whites who had few rights and African American slaves. Voices in the colonial parliament were proportional to the size of their landholdings, in other words, wealth. Carolina was later split because of the great social differences which were causing conflict.
Economic Features
To avoid costly voyages from England, the owners of the Carolinas wanted to draw in colonists from other colonies. After the unsuccessful attempt of proprietors of the Carolinas tried to profit, eventually they were convinced to fund voyages from England.
In the Northern parts of the Carolinas, there were very few harbors. Additionally, the soil was of worse quality and the land was spoiled. This led to the predominance of small farmers, as opposed to the large plantations in the South. Economic differences gave rise to tensions between the North and the South.
In the Northern parts of the Carolinas, there were very few harbors. Additionally, the soil was of worse quality and the land was spoiled. This led to the predominance of small farmers, as opposed to the large plantations in the South. Economic differences gave rise to tensions between the North and the South.
Social Features
A local aristocracy was defined, which had the proprietors at the top, the lesser nobles below them, the ordinary settlers below the nobles, and then the poor whites and African slaves at the very bottom.
In the early years of Northern Carolina, many of the settlers were considered backward farmers. However, there were some wealthy plantation owners who owned much of the land on the coast. But this ended up a problem because, soon before the split of the Carolinas, the farmers of the Albemarle region and these wealthy planters became involved in conflict.
In the early years of Northern Carolina, many of the settlers were considered backward farmers. However, there were some wealthy plantation owners who owned much of the land on the coast. But this ended up a problem because, soon before the split of the Carolinas, the farmers of the Albemarle region and these wealthy planters became involved in conflict.