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How Did Elizabeth Pinncney Influence The Economy

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Elizabeth Pinckney is perhaps one of the most influential people when it comes to agriculture in the early U.S. as she established indigo as a new cash crop, first for South Carolina, then the rest of the South. Her discovery and the tests that she conducted in botany helped the agricultural economy in the South grow and soon flourish. Eliza Lucas was born in Antigua in the West Indies in 1722 and was the eldest child of Lt. Colonel George Lucas and Ann Lucas. She had 3 other siblings; her brothers, Thomas and George, and her sister Mary. Eliza was in no way born in poverty as her family was well set, owning 3 sugarcane plantations. She grew up on one of these plantations and lived an average life like everyone else and was soon, along with the rest of her siblings, sent to receive schooling in England as this was the usual thing for elite colonists to do when their children reached a certain age. It was the common belief that most girls would just become wives and mothers so this made people of the time …show more content…

Eliza herself helped spread the growth of indigo by giving other farmers the seeds so they as well could experience the wealth and prosperity. I couldn’t agree more with historians as I believe Eliza’s knowledge, rich life, and devout belief in learning made her one of the first cornerstones for women to build their claim on for better rights in the Unites States. I also agree with their statements that her cultivation of the indigo plant helped the colonies survive and even prosper leading up to the American Revolution. She was, without a doubt, one of the greatest woman of her time and the legacy that she left behind still survives today and will for years and years to

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