What was the main cash crop produced in the southern colonies?

Tobacco was the main cash crop produced in the southern colonies during the colonial period. This crop played a crucial role in the economy of the southern colonies, particularly in Virginia and Maryland, where it was cultivated extensively. The high demand for tobacco in Europe, especially in England, led to its status as a lucrative cash crop that drove the growth of plantations and the development of an enslaved labor system to meet the labor-intensive requirements of its cultivation.

While rice and cotton later became significant cash crops in the southern economy, especially by the 18th and 19th centuries, tobacco was the dominant cash crop during the early colonial period. Sugar, while a valuable cash crop, was primarily produced in the Caribbean rather than in the southern colonies. Thus, tobacco's prominence in the southern economy during this time period makes it the correct answer.