Split of Carolinas: A Tale of Two Economies

Why did the Carolinas split into 2 parts? And what are the two parts?

What economic focuses led to the split of the Carolinas into North and South Carolina? And what were the main industries in each of the newly formed states?

Answer:

In the 1700s, the original Carolina region split into North and South Carolina due to different economic focuses and escalating political disagreements. North Carolina focused on ship production and tobacco, while South Carolina focused on rice and indigo.

The original Carolinas were a single region named the Province of Carolina, given to eight loyal supporters by King Charles II in 1663 as a proprietary colony. The region developed differently, with the South focusing on rice and indigo production and importing plantation owners from Barbados, while settlers in the North were making items for ships like turpentine and tar, and expanding their tobacco holdings.

Political disagreements began to escalate in the 1710s and by 1729, the Carolinas officially split into North Carolina and South Carolina.

North Carolina's economy continued to rely on producing items for ships, with additional income from trading deerskins and people captured from Africa. Its population increased as Virginians moved there to expand their tobacco holdings, which became a primary export along with deerskins and captives.

South Carolina, on the other hand, continued its dependence on the production of rice and indigo, capitalizing on the agrarian skills of the colonists, the fertile land, and the market demands in England.