what are the southern colonies

The Southern Colonies within British America consisted of the Province of Maryland, the Colony of Virginia, the Province of Carolina (which was later split into North and South Carolina), and the Province of Georgia. In addition, the colonies of East Florida and West Florida were added to the Southern Colonies by Great Britain until the Spanish Empire took back Florida. These colonies were located south of the Middle Colonies and were the historical core of what would become the Southern United States, or "Dixie". The Southern Colonies developed prosperous economies based on the cultivation of cash crops such as tobacco, indigo, and rice, which led to the presence of slavery in significantly higher proportions than in other parts of British America. The Southern Colonies were known for their large farms, or plantations, and the use of slaves to work on them. The Southern Colonies were Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. These colonies were characterized by warm climates, good farming soil, and a longer growing season than any other region, which made them suitable for agriculture. The Southern Colonies were established for different reasons, and they attracted settlers seeking economic prosperity they could not find in England.