The Southern Colonies were founded primarily for economic reasons, including making a profit through agriculture, particularly cash crops like tobacco, indigo, and rice. Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina were intended to generate profit for the British Empire through large plantations. Maryland was founded as a safe haven for Catholics facing religious persecution in England. Georgia was established as a colony for poor English people and debtors, providing them an opportunity to start anew and also acting as a buffer zone against Spanish Florida. Overall, the Southern Colonies had warm climates ideal for plantation agriculture, which heavily relied on slave labor for economic success. Each colony had specific reasons for founding but shared common themes of economic development and, in some cases, religious refuge and social experimentation.