What was the main economic activity in the Southern colonies?

The main economic activity in the Southern colonies was agriculture, particularly focused on cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo. The region's climate and soil conditions were highly conducive to the cultivation of these crops, which became the backbone of the Southern economy. Large plantations developed to grow these cash crops, relying heavily on enslaved labor to maintain productivity and profitability. This agricultural focus led to the Southern colonies establishing economic systems and social structures centered around plantation life, which prioritized the cultivation and export of these goods to both domestic and international markets. This reliance on agriculture set the Southern colonies apart from the Northern colonies, where manufacturing and more diverse economies began to develop.