The Southern Colonies

Focus Colonies: The Southern Settlements

Students can copy this information into their Colonial America organizer before beginning the lesson.

Maryland Colony

• Colony: Maryland
• Founder: Lord Baltimore
• Date: 1634
• Reason: Religious freedom for Catholics

Maryland at a Glance

• Founded as a safe place for English Catholics.
• Led by Lord Baltimore.
• First settlement was St. Mary’s.
• Later renamed Baltimore in his honor.

North Carolina Colony

• Colony: North Carolina
• Founder: Eight Lords Proprietors
• Date: 1663 (divided in 1680)
• Reason: Farming & trade

North Carolina at a Glance

• Originally part of the Carolina colony.
• Split from South Carolina due to disagreements.
• Settlers farmed tobacco and traded goods.

South Carolina Colony

• Colony: South Carolina
• Founder: Eight Lords Proprietors
• Date: 1663 (divided in 1680)
• Reason: Plantations & trade

South Carolina at a Glance

• Charleston became a major port city.
• Plantations grew rice and indigo.
• Split from North Carolina due to leadership conflicts.

Georgia Colony

• Colony: Georgia
• Founder: James Oglethorpe
• Date: 1733
• Reason: Fresh start for debtors & defense buffer

Georgia at a Glance

• Founded as a place for debtors to start over.
• Protected other colonies from Spanish and French threats.
• First settlement was Savannah.

Georgia: The Last Colony

The final colony to be founded was Georgia. In 1733, King George II gave land to James Oglethorpe, who hoped to create a place where people in England who had been jailed or owed money could begin again. Georgia also acted as a protective barrier, helping shield the English colonies from the French and Spanish to the south and west. The first settlement was Savannah, and the colony was named in honor of the king.

The Carolinas

Several decades earlier, in 1663, King Charles II granted a large area of land south of Virginia to a group of his friends. They named the colony Carolina in his honor. The first major settlement was Charleston. When the new leaders arrived, they discovered that many settlers from Virginia were already living there. Arguments soon broke out between the groups, and in 1680 the colony was divided into North Carolina and South Carolina.

Maryland: A Place for Catholics

The colony of Maryland was founded even earlier, in 1634. A group of English Catholics, led by Lord Baltimore, wanted a place where they could practice their religion freely. Their first settlement was called St. Mary’s, and the growing town was later renamed Baltimore in his honor.

The Southern Colonies Quiz

Activities & Extensions

Make a Colonial Fan

Southern girls often carried decorative fans that matched their dresses. Students can create their own fan inspired by colonial designs.

Directions:

1. Cut nine strips of poster board to form the fan blades.
2. Weave a ribbon through the tops of the blades to connect them.
3. Fasten the bottoms together with a brad or paper clip.
4. Decorate the blades with painted flowers, butterflies, or bees.

Make a Hornbook

A hornbook was one of the earliest tools used to teach children to read. It consisted of a wooden paddle with a sheet of writing covered by a thin, transparent layer of animal horn. Students can create a modern version using simple classroom materials.

Directions:

1. Cut a hornbook shape from brown poster board, including a handle.
2. Punch a hole in the handle and thread yarn through it to make a loop.
3. Write the alphabet or a short lesson using berry ink on paper.
4. Glue the paper to the hornbook.
5. Cover the writing with a clear piece of plastic to mimic the horn layer.

Thirteen Colonies Map Game

Students practice identifying the thirteen colonies with a fun, active game. This activity reinforces geography skills and helps students remember the location of each colony.

Directions:

1. Place a large map of the thirteen colonies on the floor. Make sure the colony names are not labeled.
2. Students take turns dropping a penny onto the map.
3. The student must name the colony where the penny lands.
4. Large colonies are worth 10 points; small colonies are worth 5 points.
5. The first player to reach 100 points wins.

Colonial America Navigation

Explore the Full 13 Colonies Unit

This complete history unit includes research passages, organizers, writing tasks, quizzes, activities, and website research — all in printable and digital formats. Everything you need to teach the 13 Colonies with confidence.

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