Primary Crops of Colonial America
Tobacco
Tobacco is a crop native to America and was one of the primary exports from Colonial America to Europe from the early 1600s to late 1700s. Up until the mid-1900s, the United States were the number one producer of tobacco. Tobacco production in the colonies began in 1617 with the help of John Rolfe in Virginia, who conducted many experiments to help it reach peak performance. The crop became such an important commodity that many colonists would trade their goods and services in exchange for it.
Cotton
Cotton was first introduced in Jamestown in 1607, but soon spread throughout all of Colonial America. Cotton fibers were used primarily for clothing, but many colonists also used the crop to stuff quilts and pillows, make armor for soldiers and other similar uses. The first cotton threads were made by women on their spinning wheels. In the Northern colonies, cotton was mostly used for manufacturing use. In the Southern colonies, however, the crop was primary used more for personal reasons.
Corn
Corn is a grain plant that was first cultivated in Central America, but was introduced to Colonial America by the Indians during the beginning stages of colonization. The colonists used the crop mainly to eat whole both cooked and raw. They would also grind it down into a fine grain to use for making pasta, porridge, bread, grits and more. Another large use for corn was to feed their animals - both pets and livestock alike. Native Americans referred to corn as "maize," as it was so-called in Central America.