Question

Which of the following best summarizes the economic activities of poor White South Carolinians in the early to mid-1800s?
A. Most poor White South Carolinians were small-scale farmers.
B. Most poor White South Carolinians were nomadic, moving from one place to another each season.
C. Most poor White South Carolinians owned large-scale cattle ranches.
D. Most poor White South Carolinians worked in the fishing industry on the Atlantic coast.

Answer 1

A. Most poor White South Carolinians were small-scale farmers.

They were largely yeoman or subsistence farmers on small plots (few owned slaves), living in the backcountry/mountain areas and making a living from small-scale agriculture rather than large ranching, seasonal nomadism, or widespread coastal fishing.