Jamestown Economy and Tobacco

Learning Targets I can describe the importance of Tobacco to the economy of Virginia I can describe the importance of Tobacco to the economy of Virginia I can identify John Rolfe I can identify John Rolfe

Economy

From an early tobacco label Hail thou inspiring plant! Thou balm of life, Well might thy worth engage two nations' strife; Exhaustless fountain of Britannia's wealth; Thou friend of wisdom and thou source of health.

An English pamphlet of the time reported that: The people in the South parts of Virginia esteeme it [tobacco] exceedingly... ; they say that God in the creation did first make a woman, then a man, thirdly great maize, or Indian wheat, and fourthly, Tobacco. The people in the South parts of Virginia esteeme it [tobacco] exceedingly... ; they say that God in the creation did first make a woman, then a man, thirdly great maize, or Indian wheat, and fourthly, Tobacco.

Economic Expectations The colony was sponsored by a group of investors called the Virginia Company of London, who were granted a charter by King James I. The colony was sponsored by a group of investors called the Virginia Company of London, who were granted a charter by King James I. Investors anticipated profits from the settlement in the form of gold, silver, and natural resources. Investors anticipated profits from the settlement in the form of gold, silver, and natural resources.

Industries English attempts to find gold and silver in Virginia proved fruitless. English attempts to find gold and silver in Virginia proved fruitless. The Virginia Company still expected profits and had the colonists attempt various industries such as glassmaking… The Virginia Company still expected profits and had the colonists attempt various industries such as glassmaking…

Industries

Industries

Industries

Tobacco All attempts to make profits by various industries failed due to the high death rate of the colonists and the costs of labor. All attempts to make profits by various industries failed due to the high death rate of the colonists and the costs of labor. However, one crop proved to be a money maker--tobacco. However, one crop proved to be a money maker--tobacco. In the early years profit margins on tobacco production ranged form 22% to as high as 1000%! In the early years profit margins on tobacco production ranged form 22% to as high as 1000%! Tobacco allowed the colony to survive, prosper, and grow, however… Tobacco allowed the colony to survive, prosper, and grow, however…

John Rolfe Brought Tobacco seeds to Virginia Brought Tobacco seeds to Virginia Made it commercially viable Made it commercially viable By 1630 Tobacco export to England was not less than ½ million pounds By 1630 Tobacco export to England was not less than ½ million pounds

Tobacco’s Popularity Virginia and Maryland passed laws stating for every person in the household you had to plant an acre of corn? Virginia and Maryland passed laws stating for every person in the household you had to plant an acre of corn? Why would they pass such laws? Why would they pass such laws?

Initially, the settlers went overboard, with predictable results. A description of Jamestown in 1617 paints a bleak picture: "but five or six houses, the church downe, the palizado's broken, the bridge in pieces, the well of fresh water spoiled; the storehouse used for the church..., [and] the colony dispersed about, planting tobacco." "but five or six houses, the church downe, the palizado's broken, the bridge in pieces, the well of fresh water spoiled; the storehouse used for the church..., [and] the colony dispersed about, planting tobacco."

Tobacco and Land Growing tobacco leached the soil of nutrients requiring the settlers to seek more land. This expansion along the banks of the James River resulted in the displacement of Virginia Indians from their homelands and led to conflict between the two cultures. Growing tobacco leached the soil of nutrients requiring the settlers to seek more land. This expansion along the banks of the James River resulted in the displacement of Virginia Indians from their homelands and led to conflict between the two cultures.

Tobacco and Land use After 3 years the land was “dead” and take 20 years to recover After 3 years the land was “dead” and take 20 years to recover Cheaper to purchase new land than manure the old Cheaper to purchase new land than manure the old Yield about 1000lbs per acre Yield about 1000lbs per acre Planted in hills, about 1000 per acre Planted in hills, about 1000 per acre

Tobacco and Labor Growing tobacco was very labor-intensive. The average farmer could only farm about half an acre of ground producing 400 pounds of tobacco and crops. The more land a farmer owned, the more people he needed to work the land. In the early years indentured servants, immigrants usually from England, provided much of Virginia’s labor force. But by the end of the 17 th century Virginians turned to a new labor force: African slavery. Growing tobacco was very labor-intensive. The average farmer could only farm about half an acre of ground producing 400 pounds of tobacco and crops. The more land a farmer owned, the more people he needed to work the land. In the early years indentured servants, immigrants usually from England, provided much of Virginia’s labor force. But by the end of the 17 th century Virginians turned to a new labor force: African slavery.

Tobacco insured economic survival of the Colony Life is a smoke! -- If this be true, Tobacco will thy Life renew; Then fear not Death, nor killing care Whilst we have best Virginia here. Life is a smoke! -- If this be true, Tobacco will thy Life renew; Then fear not Death, nor killing care Whilst we have best Virginia here.