A New History of the American South Season 1 Episode 4 The Southern Colonies Take Root

In this fourth episode of A New History of the American South, titled "The Southern Colonies Take Root," viewers are taken on a journey back in time to the early days of the American South, when English colonists began to establish settlements in the region. The episode begins with a discussion of the reasons why England was interested in colonizing the New World, including economic opportunities, religious freedom, and a desire to expand its empire.

The focus then turns to the first English settlement in the South, Jamestown, Virginia, which was founded in 1607. Viewers learn about the struggles that the colonists faced in their early years, including disease, famine, and conflict with the Native Americans who already inhabited the region.

Despite these challenges, the colony began to grow and prosper, thanks in part to the cultivation of tobacco, which quickly became a valuable cash crop. The episode explores the impact that tobacco had on the economy and social structure of the South, as wealthy planters began to dominate the region and rely on enslaved Africans to work their fields.

The episode also looks at the founding of other southern colonies, including Maryland, which was established as a refuge for English Catholics, and South Carolina, which was settled by a mix of English, French, and Spanish colonists. Viewers learn about the different factors that led to the success or failure of these colonies, including their economic potential, interactions with Native Americans, and political and religious ideologies.

Throughout the episode, the show's experts provide rich historical context and insights into the lives and experiences of the people who lived in the early southern colonies. Viewers will come away with a deeper understanding of the complex and often conflicting forces that shaped the region in its earliest years, and how those forces continue to impact the South today.

Overall, "The Southern Colonies Take Root" is a fascinating and insightful exploration of a pivotal moment in the history of the American South. The episode tells a rich and compelling story of struggle, conflict, and eventual triumph, and offers viewers a unique glimpse into the early years of a region that continues to captivate and intrigue generations of Americans.