The Development Of The Colonies
The successful transformation of colonial Virginia didn't just happen over night. In fact it took colonist nearly a century to establish the prosperous colony. As introduced by George Percy, in document a, the development of the colony was no cakewalk. The Englishmen that traveled to America in hopes of finding a better life and economic oppurtunities instead suffered terribly of harsh conditions stemming from diseases, wars and most importatntly starvation. Despite all the hardships the colony still flourished with its foundation surrounding the cash crop tobacco and slaves.
In the beginning Virginia had no marketable product but the founding of tobacco by John Rolfe in 1612 brought about change both socially and economically. Economicallly tobacco boosted the status of the economy of the "New World". Overseas in England the costly tobacco was accepted and wery popular. As a result of the high demand of the product from the affluent customers in Europe pressured planters in America to produce a larger supply.
With this new high demand of tobacco came an increasing need of labor. Stretching every option possible the colonist looked toward their homeland for help and turned to the idea of hiring help, otherwise known as identured servants. A contract similar to the one listed in document c, was set up and it agreed that in return for working several years the servant would recieve food, clothing, and shelter. This system lasted for only so long before plantation owners found a less expensive route, little did they know would change the society of the "New World" for generations to come.
As a way of adressing labor shortagers due to the killings of Native Americans by diseases and wars and most of the indentured servants desire to become independent planters, plantationa owners looked to Africa for slaves. This brought about a momentous event that would go down in history books known as the, 'middle passage'. The...
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