How was the land farmed in tidewater region and in the Virginia backcountry?

Answer 1

In the Tidewater region, land was primarily farmed using large plantations that focused on cash crops like tobacco, which relied on enslaved labor for cultivation. The farming methods involved extensive use of rivers for transportation and irrigation. In contrast, the Virginia backcountry featured smaller farms where settlers practiced subsistence farming, growing a variety of crops for their families and utilizing more diverse agricultural techniques adapted to the hilly terrain. This region had a more self-sufficient approach, with less reliance on slave labor compared to the Tidewater plantations.