Question about colonial Maryland/Baltimore

Does anyone know whether colonial Maryland was culturally, socially and economically closer to Virginia or Pennsylvania? If they had to pick a side in a battle between the two places, which would they prefer?
 
Does anyone know whether colonial Maryland was culturally, socially and economically closer to Virginia or Pennsylvania? If they had to pick a side in a battle between the two places, which would they prefer?
Seeing as they had plantation agriculture and were dominated by (crypto)-Catholic aristocracy (at least at the beginning), it stands to reason that they would align with Virginia (plantations and High Church) against Pennsylvania (smallholders and religious freedom with radical Protestants dominant).
 
Maryland also had a number of border disputes with Pennsylvania which where only settled in the 1760's. So did Virgina for that matter and so did New York and Connecticut. Their was even a shooting war between Pennsylvania and Connecticut settlers in the Wyoming Valley 3 different times.
 
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Seeing as they had plantation agriculture and were dominated by (crypto)-Catholic aristocracy (at least at the beginning), it stands to reason that they would align with Virginia (plantations and High Church) against Pennsylvania (smallholders and religious freedom with radical Protestants dominant).

Was this still the case by the 1760s? Did Baltimore see Richmond as a rival?
 
Does anyone know whether colonial Maryland was culturally, socially and economically closer to Virginia or Pennsylvania? If they had to pick a side in a battle between the two places, which would they prefer?

Maryland was definitely closer to Virginia culturally and economically. The economy of the Chesapeake By region was centered on the cultivation of tobacco. After the inspection acts of 1730, the tobacco economy began to recover out of a slump, with prices hitting a peak just around the time the revolution began. Most of the tobacco was shipped to Britain, with 90% of that being reexported to Western European markets. Also, the tobacco trade remained largely in the hands of British merchants with around 12 firms from London and Glasgow controlling the trade by 1775. Also, British-owned ships were 75% of those calling at Chesapeake Ports.

Though Virginia was the most populous colony with nearly half a million inhabitants by the time of the revolution (around 40% of whom were slaves), it had a primarily agricultural economy. There were no towns larger than 6,000, the population was thinly spread out due to the reliance on tobacco farming. Maryland and the rest of the southern colonies followed this pattern, with few large towns.

Norfolk and Baltimore were the largest cities in Maryland and Virginia, both with around 6,000 people each by 1775. They relied on the export of tobacco and to a lesser extent grains. Baltimore had a population of only 200 in 1752 and had grown to 5,934 by 1775. Most of Norfolk's growth too was after 1750. There was no native mercantile community in Virginia or Maryland until the late colonial period explaining why Baltimore and Norfolk only began their ascent when they became secondary ports for the grain trade after 1750.

The growth of Baltimore would be after independence when tobacco declined in the region (mostly due to exhausted soils) and shipbuilding grew. This led it to overtake Chestertown and Annapolis in importance in Maryland.

Richmond was a small town of only around 600 people by 1775 and existed primarily as an inspection point for tobacco. It wouldn't grow until after the revolution when it was selected as the state capital. Williamsburg, the colonial capital of Virginia had perhaps 2,000 inhabitants in 1775, it existed merely as an administrative centre.

By contrast, Pennsylvania's economic development was reliant on wheat, requiring large mills in centralized locations where farmers could send their grain. Philadelphia's position enhanced its advantages as a milling and shipping centre for Eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and the northern Chesapeake. With the rise in grain prices beginning in the mid-18th century, Philadelphia's population boomed, doubling between 1750 and 1775 to around 40,000. Philadelphia was able to overtake Boston as the largest city in British North America by the mid-18th century. Philadelphia's flour trade accounted for nearly half of its exports as it did business with Britain, and the British West Indies.

Population wise, slaves were far more prominent in Maryland and Virginia. However, all three colonies were attracting immigrants from Europe as the frontier expanded west. Beginning in 1720, Ireland (70% from Ulster) and Germany replaced England as the main source of immigrants. The Irish settled in the Delaware Valley, with 80,000 settling there before 1776. Another 70,000 free immigrants were Germans arriving as indentured servants, and settling inland once their service was complete. By 1750 Germans outnumbered English and Welsh inland.

The heterogeneous population and religious mix in the three colonies contrasted especially with New England where over 95% of the population was of English origin and most were Congregationalists and there had been no net immigration since around 1660 (the population growth was based solely on natural growth). Increasing poverty in New England during the 18th century was somewhat alleviated by the growing shipbuilding and mercantile trade of the Yankees as Boston and especially Newport became important ports trading not only with England, but also with other British colonies (including the Chesapeake).
 
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Maryland was definitely closer to Virginia culturally and economically. The economy of the Chesapeake By region was centered on the cultivation of tobacco. After the inspection acts of 1730, the tobacco economy began to recover out of a slump, with prices hitting a peak just around the time the revolution began. Most of the tobacco was shipped to Britain, with 90% of that being reexported to Western European markets. Also, the tobacco trade remained largely in the hands of British merchants with around 12 firms from London and Glasgow controlling the trade by 1775. Also, British-owned ships were 75% of those calling at Chesapeake Ports.

Though Virginia was the most populous colony with nearly half a million inhabitants by the time of the revolution (around 40% of whom were slaves), it had a primarily agricultural economy. There were no towns larger than 6,000, the population was thinly spread out due to the reliance on tobacco farming. Maryland and the rest of the southern colonies followed this pattern, with few large towns.

Norfolk and Baltimore were the largest cities in Maryland and Virginia, both with around 6,000 people each by 1775. They relied on the export of tobacco and to a lesser extent grains. Baltimore had a population of only 200 in 1752 and had grown to 5,934 by 1775. Most of Norfolk's growth too was after 1750. There was no native mercantile community in Virginia or Maryland until the late colonial period explaining why Baltimore and Norfolk only began their ascent when they became secondary ports for the grain trade after 1750.

The growth of Baltimore would be after independence when tobacco declined in the region (mostly due to exhausted soils) and shipbuilding grew. This led it to overtake Chestertown and Annapolis in importance in Maryland.

Richmond was a small town of only around 600 people by 1775 and existed primarily as an inspection point for tobacco. It wouldn't grow until after the revolution when it was selected as the state capital. Williamsburg, the colonial capital of Virginia had perhaps 2,000 inhabitants in 1775, it existed merely as an administrative centre.

By contrast, Pennsylvania's economic development was reliant on wheat, requiring large mills in centralized locations where farmers could send their grain. Philadelphia's position enhanced its advantages as a milling and shipping centre for Eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and the northern Chesapeake. With the rise in grain prices beginning in the mid-18th century, Philadelphia's population boomed, doubling between 1750 and 1775 to around 40,000. Philadelphia was able to overtake Boston as the largest city in British North America by the mid-18th century. Philadelphia's flour trade accounted for nearly half of its exports as it did business with Britain, and the British West Indies.

Population wise, slaves were far more prominent in Maryland and Virginia. However, all three colonies were attracting immigrants from Europe as the frontier expanded west. Beginning in 1720, Ireland (70% from Ulster) and Germany replaced England as the main source of immigrants. The Irish settled in the Delaware Valley, with 80,000 settling there before 1776. Another 70,000 free immigrants were Germans arriving as indentured servants, and settling inland once their service was complete. By 1750 Germans outnumbered English and Welsh inland.

The heterogeneous population and religious mix in the three colonies contrasted especially with New England where over 95% of the population was of English origin and most were Congregationalists and there had been no net immigration since around 1660 (the population growth was based solely on natural growth). Increasing poverty in New England during the 18th century was somewhat alleviated by the growing shipbuilding and mercantile trade of the Yankees as Boston and especially Newport became important ports trading not only with England, but also with other British colonies (including the Chesapeake).

This is really interesting and detailed information. Many thanks! I really do appreciate your input. A few more questions:

1) Was Pennsylvania much more like New York then? Or were Pennsylvania and New York very different beasts economically and socially? How did Philadelphia and New York City compare?

2) Did Maryland move away from Virginia post-1750, as it became more industrial? Did this make it more like Pennsylvania?

3) How come the soils got exhausted in Maryland and not in Virginia?
 
This is really interesting and detailed information. Many thanks! I really do appreciate your input. A few more questions:

1) Was Pennsylvania much more like New York then? Or were Pennsylvania and New York very different beasts economically and socially? How did Philadelphia and New York City compare?

2) Did Maryland move away from Virginia post-1750, as it became more industrial? Did this make it more like Pennsylvania?

3) How come the soils got exhausted in Maryland and not in Virginia?

1. New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania were similar in that they relied mostly on the production and export of grains. New York was really only settled along the Hudson River south of Albany by 1770, with a few smaller scattered settlements outside of that area. Even Dutchess County was only opened up to settlement in the 1750s. However, this region produced over 1/3 of the wheat in British North America by 1770. As for New York City itself, its growth was largely the product of the Erie Canal in 1820, connecting it with the inland areas of the west, and giving it an advantage that neither Philadelphia, nor Baltimore had.

2. To call Maryland industrial anytime before 1840 is a stretch. The shipbuilding really seems to have taken off after 1790. However, heavy industry was still a long way way. After the decline of tobacco during the revolution (loss of markets), and the depletion of soils, Maryland along with Virginia began to farm grains along the coast (wheat, maize, rye, oats), as these were booming commodities. This coincided with the beginning of Europe's population growth, and a demand for grain and flour. Baltimore became a leading grain exporting port along the Chesapeake. Along with the need for interstate trade by sea, this allowed it to become the third largest city in the United States.

On a side-note, Richmond was mentioned, by 1830 Richmond rivaled Rochester, NY as the nation's leading flour milling city, allowing it to grow as a city.

3. The soils in Virginia around the Chesapeake Bay area were just as depleted. Tobacco depletes nitrogen and potash from the soil. Usually most land in the region yielded tobacco for 3-4 years. Afterwards, maize was planted, however this was conducive to erosion leading land to be abandoned. The abundance of land in 1750 led many poorer farmers to settle west. As late as 1760, the vast majority of inhabitants lived along the coast and there were still large areas of land available for settlement in Virginia and Maryland further west. With the British victory in the French-Indian War, this removed the largest obstacle to Westward settlement. Poor whites were among the first to move to present-day West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and later further west.

What does all of the above mean. Firstly, the growing of grain was not as labour intensive as tobacco, meaning there were too many slaves in Virginia and Maryland by 1790. Some slave owners were no longer able to afford to keep them, and set them free. By 1810 23% of blacks in Maryland and 76% in Delaware were free (compared with 7% and 31% in 1790).

However, beginning in the 1790s, the invention of the cotton gin, coupled with Britain's industrial revolution allowed for cotton to boom in the deep South. First cultivated in large quantities in South Carolina and Georgia, it became the nation's leading export in 1803 (and would remain so until 1937). With the opening of new lands to settlement in Alabama and Mississippi, these would become the leading cotton growing states. Finally, additional cotton growing land was acquired with the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican War. This allowed over 900,000 slaves from Virginia would be exported to other states by 1860 (this was their leading export). During the 1790-1800 some 40-50,000 were exported from Virginia and Maryland. The closing of the US to the international slave trade in 1808, proved to be a windfall for some slave owners in Virginia and Maryland.

Also, there were lesser numbers of slaves that would be exported to new tobacco growing areas in North Carolina and Kentucky. One has to remember that in 1772 North Carolina only exported 2% of the amount of tobacco that Virginia did and 5% the amount that Maryland did.
 
They actually had 2 different border problems which where not solved until the 1870s. The western dispute was inherited by West Virginia and wasn't solved until 1903 by the US Supreme Court. The eastern disputed was their boundary on the Delmarva because back when this became an issue the point they were superposed to use no longer existed.
 
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