Virginia & the Southern Colonies Standard 1a, 1e

The Southern Colonies The Southern Colonies Virginia (Jamestown, 1607), South Carolina (Charleston, 1670), North Carolina (1653), Georgia (Savannah, 1733), & Maryland (1634) Impact of Location Southern colonies had hot, humid climates. Thus economic development tended towards agriculture. Tobacco was the #1 cash crop in Virginia, as well as Maryland. In the Carolinas & Georgia, the major crop was rice, grown along the coastal areas. Cotton was not profitable at this time as the seeds in cotton had to be removed by hand. The economies of the southern colonies revolved around agriculture and plantations. Southern colonies imported slaves more than any other region to work the agricultural economy.

Early English Settlements: Virginia Jamestown, VA Corporate colony chartered by King James I in 1607. Corporate colonies were created to make money. First successful English colony; Roanoke, established years earlier in Virginia had been a failure. The Virginia Company, a joint-stock company held the charter. Joint stock company is a group of investors

Early English Settlements: Virginia Early Problems Jamestown was established in a swampy area along the James River This made it susceptible to fatal outbreaks of dysentery & malaria. Many of the colonists were gentlemen unaccustomed to physical work. Others were gold seeking adventurers who refused to farm or hunt.

Early English Settlements: Virginia Tobacco & John Rolfe Rolfe developed a milder variety of tobacco that was appealing to European smokers Tobacco as it was found in Virginia was found to be too strong Tobacco was relatively easy to grow It quickly became the #1 Cash Crop for the Virginia Company. Tobacco made

Early English Settlements: Virginia Indentured Servants Under contract with a master or landowner who paid for their passage, young people from the British Isles agreed to work for a specified period. Generally a 7 year period, in return for room and board. Indentured servants were under the absolute rule of their masters until the end of their work period. At the expiration of the period, they gained their freedom & either worked for wages or obtained land of their own to farm. For landowners the system did provide labor, but only temporarily. The Headright System Virginia did attempt to attract immigrants through offers of land. The colony offered 50 acres of land to each immigrant who paid for his own passage The colony offered any plantation owner who paid for an immigrant’s passage 50 acres. These two options comprised the headright system.

Early English Settlements: Virginia The Powhatan Confederation Created by Chief Wahunsunacock of the Powhatan tribe. Sometime prior to 1607, Wahunsunacock united 30 peoples located in the tributaries in and around the James River. Wahunsuncock became known as “Chief Powhatan.” In 1618, Wahunsunacock died, and his brother became Chief Powhatan. The 2nd Chief Powhatan attempted to drive off the encroaching English settlers twice, in 1622 & 1644, each time unsuccessfully. Disease was the number one killer of the people of the Powhatan Confederation.

Early English Settlements: Virginia Representative Assembly in Virginia The House of Burgesses The Virginia Company encouraged settlement in Jamestown by guaranteeing residents the same rights as residents of England. This included representation in the law making process. The House of Burgesses was created in 1619. It is the first representative assembly in North America.

Early English Settlements: Virginia Bacon’s Rebellion As more indentured servants become free, more men move west in search of land, & come intro conflict with Indians. Nathaniel Bacon, a wealthy aristocrat, took it upon himself to build a militia to fight Indians on the frontier.

Early English Settlements: Virginia Bacon’s Rebellion When Virginia’s governor condemned his action’s, Bacon led his army on an attack of Jamestown in 1676. Jamestown was burned to the ground, but when Bacon died the rebellion ended. The Indians were not driven from Virginia, but the governor of Virginia was recalled to England.