How were Barbados and the Chesapeake colonies different?

Answer 1

Barbados and the Chesapeake colonies differed primarily in their economic focus and social structure. Barbados developed a plantation economy centered on sugar production, leading to a reliance on enslaved African labor and creating a wealthy elite class. In contrast, the Chesapeake colonies, such as Virginia and Maryland, primarily cultivated tobacco and had a more diverse economy, which included smaller farms and a mix of indentured servants and enslaved labor. Additionally, the social dynamics in Barbados were heavily stratified, while the Chesapeake had more varied social classes due to its different agricultural practices.