Colonial+Maryland

**Geography**


====﻿Maryland is located in the southern colonies and is consisted of rural lowlands. Its lands are very fertile and poccesses a warm climate which is ideal for cash crops. Its lone river the Potomac, forms Maryland's southern border and its sole mountain, the Blue Ridge mountain, is located in the north west of the colony. It consists of two harbors: the all important Chesapeake Bay, and the Asstague National Harbor near the Atlantic ocean. The fertile soil and the warm climate greatly impacted the economy of Maryland.====

History
(Calvert)

====﻿The first person to come to Maryland was a Spanish man by the name of Pedro Menedez Marques in 1574. Like many Spaniards at the time, his main motive for exploring the New World was for gold. Later in 1632, Maryland was officially colonized by George Calvert, the First Baron Baltimor. Maryland was colonized main for economic benefits and to create business advantages and to facilitate the slave trade. However, at the time there was roughly 8,000 Native Americans living on the land.====

Economics


====﻿Marylands most lucrative source of income revolved around one plant: tobacco. There were not only slaves but indentured servants in Maryland at the time and once they bought their freedom, they too often started their own tobacco farms. In the 1800, tobacco production was even rivaling Maryland's agricultural output. Shipbuildling, metal working, and commerce also brought up an important part of the economy.====

Social
====﻿English was the main language that was spoken in Maryland as the colonists were mostly British. Maryland was fairly tolerant of religious affiliation, in 1649 the Maryland Toleration Act was passed which tolerates all forms of Christianity. The role of women in Maryland was not vastly different from their role in other colonies. They were mainly indentured servants or charged with raising children. However, husbands usually left a large part of their will for their wives in hope that they would not remarry due to the fact that they fear their children would suffer under a stepfather. However, a great number of widows did remarry all the same.====

Political
====﻿Maryland was granted a royal charter for colonization by Charles I of England. They were granted 12 million acres of land. Throughout colonial Maryland's history, it had a largely representative government.====