How were backcountry farms different from plantations on the coastal plain?

Backcountry farms were typically smaller, subsistence-oriented operations located inland, where families grew crops primarily for their own consumption rather than for sale. In contrast, plantations on the coastal plain were large-scale agricultural enterprises that relied heavily on cash crops like tobacco, rice, and cotton, utilizing enslaved labor to maximize profits. Plantations often featured extensive land and a hierarchical social structure, while backcountry farms were more self-sufficient and had a more egalitarian social organization.