English Colonization of the Chesapeake

Jamestown Colony (1607) Virginia Company of London gentlemen adventurers & poor servants Virginia Company of London gentlemen adventurers & poor servants Joint Stock Colony Joint Stock Colony April 1607, land along James River April 1607, land along James River

First Colonists - Problems Malarial swamp Malarial swamp There to find riches – gold There to find riches – gold No gold – economy in shambles No gold – economy in shambles Did not plant food – hoped to trade with Indians Did not plant food – hoped to trade with Indians

John Smith 38 of the 104 remained nine months later - disease or starvation 38 of the 104 remained nine months later - disease or starvation John Smith, the colonial leader, begins to make changes John Smith, the colonial leader, begins to make changes Colonists largely unmotivated Colonists largely unmotivated Smith leaves Jamestown in 1609 Smith leaves Jamestown in 1609

How was Jamestown Saved? Tobacco – John Rolfe – 1616 Tobacco – John Rolfe – 1616 Right climate Right climate Demand in Europe Demand in Europe How to replace the people? How to replace the people? Headright System Headright System Indentured Servants Indentured Servants

Population of the Land Plantations Plantations Spread out along rivers Spread out along rivers Towns did not develop Towns did not develop Plantations self- sufficient Plantations self- sufficient

Business Booms Tobacco production increased Tobacco production increased from 200,000 lbs/yr in 1624 from 200,000 lbs/yr in 1624 to 3 million in 1638 to 3 million in 1638 to 10 million in 1660 to 10 million in 1660 Tobacco became the economic engine for the Virginia colony Tobacco became the economic engine for the Virginia colony This plantation economy developed throughout the Chesapeake and eventually into the deep south and remained the core industry of the south through the Civil War. This plantation economy developed throughout the Chesapeake and eventually into the deep south and remained the core industry of the south through the Civil War.

Labor Source of the Chesapeake Landowners needed someone to perform manual labor of planting, tending and harvesting crops Landowners needed someone to perform manual labor of planting, tending and harvesting crops Indentured servants – 1610s – late 1600s Indentured servants – 1610s – late 1600s African slaves – late 1600s – 1865 African slaves – late 1600s – 1865 First slaves First slaves – 300 slaves 1650 – 300 slaves 1700 – 13,000 slaves 1700 – 13,000 slaves

Jamestown Religion & Education Not a priority in the culture of Virginia Not a priority in the culture of Virginia Lack of towns and widespread population Lack of towns and widespread population Religion: Most folks were Anglicans Religion: Most folks were Anglicans Education Education Wealthy hired tutors or sent to Europe Wealthy hired tutors or sent to Europe Poor worked as apprentices Poor worked as apprentices

Jamestown Government Colonial legislature - House of Burgesses (est. 1619) Colonial legislature - House of Burgesses (est. 1619) First legislative body in North America First legislative body in North America Controlled by aristocracy Controlled by aristocracy Vote - white, male, landowner Vote - white, male, landowner

Maryland Proprietary Colony Proprietary Colony Lord George Calvert – debt from Crown Lord George Calvert – debt from Crown Haven for Catholics Haven for Catholics Acts of Toleration Acts of Toleration

Maryland Economy Plantation economy very much like Jamestown Plantation economy very much like Jamestown Produced tobacco Produced tobacco Practiced slavery Practiced slavery

Southern Colonies Single cash crop – plantation economies Single cash crop – plantation economies Carolinas – Proprietary colony Carolinas – Proprietary colony Rice and indigo Rice and indigo