Transformation Of Colonial Virginia Essay
The Transformation of Colonial Virginia
The colony of Virginia was drastically changed beginning in 1606 throughout the entire 17th century. Early, there were many hardships as described by George Percy (Document A). However, the colonists were able to alter their colony with the aid of the tobacco industry along with the use of indentured servants, and most notably slaves. Although the Virginians faced many challenges, their efforts changed the colony socially and economically throughout the century.
During the beginning of the colonization process, settlers who rushed to Virginia faced many hardships. They faced several different illnesses and fatal diseases, which their bodies were not immune to. The living conditions were not easy during this time, and many Virginians lost their lives. In …show more content…
Document A, A Discourse on the Plantation of Virginia, George Percy explains the challenges Virginians suffered: “Our men were destroyed with cruel diseases as swelling, burning fevers, and by wars, and some departed suddenly, but for the most part they died of mere famine.” He goes on to state that the Englishmen were left in unprecedented misery in this new discovered Virginia.
It is obvious that there were many difficulties for early settlers in Virginia during the early 1600’s.
The Virginians efforts changed the social ways of the colony in many different areas. The area of Virginia began with a population of essentially zero (omitting Native Americans). Colonists focused on increasing the population to establish Virginia as a true and transformed colony. In 1671, the Governor of Virginia, William Berkeley, reported to the crown that Virginia now inhabited over 40,000 people. This number included men, women, and children. He went on to say that two thousand of them were black slaves, six thousand were Christian servants, and the rest were born in Virginia or had come to settle in order to better their condition. Governor Berkeley notes that Virginia annually brings in about 1500 servants. He states that most of them are English, few are Scotch or
Irish, and no more than two or three ships of Negroes are brought in within a seven year period (Document E). Population was increasing in Virginia and diversity was arising. In 1635, colonists in Virginia began needing more laborers. The families procreated too slowly, Indians were dying quickly, and slaves were too expensive. It was time to discover a new type of people for laboring. The issue was solved when indentured servants began their journeys to Virginia. These servants agreed to a limited term of servitude in return for travel expenses, shelter, and sustenance. Father Andrew White created a contract in 1635 for indentured servants to fill out in order to begin their servitude (Document C). The demographics of Virginia would essentially remain full of whites and indentured servants until the late-1700’s when the Transatlantic Trade Triangle would be established. This event would bring a large amount of Africans to North America on a tightly packed ship (Pictured in Document D). The journey to America was known as the Middle Passage, during which the Africans faced cruelty and one in five faced death. With the growing population and addition of indentured servants and eventually innumerable African slaves, Virginia was drastically changed in its social realm of existence.
In conjunction with the social changes, Virginians were changing the colony economically over the century in many different ways as well. In 1612, John Rolfe found methods of raising and curing tobacco perfectly. The plant known as tobacco saved the economy of the early settlement Virginia. The discoveries of John Rolfe boosted Virginia’s economy tremendously. The demand overseas for tobacco was great. As the tobacco industry became successful in Virginia, many advertisements for the product were created (one of which is pictured in Document B). These advertisements were created in order to increase the sales of tobacco beyond what they already were. By mid-1600’s Virginia was consistently exporting large amounts of tobacco to England. Colonists were finally able to alter and sustain their colony with the aid of the tobacco industry along with the use of indentured slaves. The tobacco industry changed the Virginian colony economically throughout the 17th century.
In conclusion, the colony of Virginia transformed during the 1600’s. Much advancement took place through the determination of Virginians. The success of Virginia’s launch and early transformation can be credited to diligent colonists, the tobacco industry, and the use of indentured slaves. Although the colonists faced extreme hardships in the beginning of the colonization process, they persevered and were able to change the colony of Virginia socially and economically over the 17th century.
The colony of Virginia was drastically changed beginning in 1606 throughout the entire 17th century. Early, there were many hardships as described by George Percy (Document A). However, the colonists were able to alter their colony with the aid of the tobacco industry along with the use of indentured servants, and most notably slaves. Although the Virginians faced many challenges, their efforts changed the colony socially and economically throughout the century.
During the beginning of the colonization process, settlers who rushed to Virginia faced many hardships. They faced several different illnesses and fatal diseases, which their bodies were not immune to. The living conditions were not easy during this time, and many Virginians lost their lives. In …show more content…
Document A, A Discourse on the Plantation of Virginia, George Percy explains the challenges Virginians suffered: “Our men were destroyed with cruel diseases as swelling, burning fevers, and by wars, and some departed suddenly, but for the most part they died of mere famine.” He goes on to state that the Englishmen were left in unprecedented misery in this new discovered Virginia.
It is obvious that there were many difficulties for early settlers in Virginia during the early 1600’s.
The Virginians efforts changed the social ways of the colony in many different areas. The area of Virginia began with a population of essentially zero (omitting Native Americans). Colonists focused on increasing the population to establish Virginia as a true and transformed colony. In 1671, the Governor of Virginia, William Berkeley, reported to the crown that Virginia now inhabited over 40,000 people. This number included men, women, and children. He went on to say that two thousand of them were black slaves, six thousand were Christian servants, and the rest were born in Virginia or had come to settle in order to better their condition. Governor Berkeley notes that Virginia annually brings in about 1500 servants. He states that most of them are English, few are Scotch or
Irish, and no more than two or three ships of Negroes are brought in within a seven year period (Document E). Population was increasing in Virginia and diversity was arising. In 1635, colonists in Virginia began needing more laborers. The families procreated too slowly, Indians were dying quickly, and slaves were too expensive. It was time to discover a new type of people for laboring. The issue was solved when indentured servants began their journeys to Virginia. These servants agreed to a limited term of servitude in return for travel expenses, shelter, and sustenance. Father Andrew White created a contract in 1635 for indentured servants to fill out in order to begin their servitude (Document C). The demographics of Virginia would essentially remain full of whites and indentured servants until the late-1700’s when the Transatlantic Trade Triangle would be established. This event would bring a large amount of Africans to North America on a tightly packed ship (Pictured in Document D). The journey to America was known as the Middle Passage, during which the Africans faced cruelty and one in five faced death. With the growing population and addition of indentured servants and eventually innumerable African slaves, Virginia was drastically changed in its social realm of existence.
In conjunction with the social changes, Virginians were changing the colony economically over the century in many different ways as well. In 1612, John Rolfe found methods of raising and curing tobacco perfectly. The plant known as tobacco saved the economy of the early settlement Virginia. The discoveries of John Rolfe boosted Virginia’s economy tremendously. The demand overseas for tobacco was great. As the tobacco industry became successful in Virginia, many advertisements for the product were created (one of which is pictured in Document B). These advertisements were created in order to increase the sales of tobacco beyond what they already were. By mid-1600’s Virginia was consistently exporting large amounts of tobacco to England. Colonists were finally able to alter and sustain their colony with the aid of the tobacco industry along with the use of indentured slaves. The tobacco industry changed the Virginian colony economically throughout the 17th century.
In conclusion, the colony of Virginia transformed during the 1600’s. Much advancement took place through the determination of Virginians. The success of Virginia’s launch and early transformation can be credited to diligent colonists, the tobacco industry, and the use of indentured slaves. Although the colonists faced extreme hardships in the beginning of the colonization process, they persevered and were able to change the colony of Virginia socially and economically over the 17th century.