Geography
In 1607, Jamestown was founded, which was chartered by James I. Virginia was located towards the north of the Southern Colonies and borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east. To the north is Maryland and to the south is North Carolina. Two of the major towns/cities were Jamestown and Chesapeake.
Unfortunately, Jamestown had a very poor geographic location. The drinking water was not healthy or drinkable, and Jamestown was located near wetlands, which attracted disease carrying mosquitoes that caused several illnesses. The colonists were unable to plant or gather food for the winter which caused more than half of them to die of starvation in the first year. However, John Rolfe later discovered that Virginia had the ideal conditions to grow tobacco which became a major cash crop for the colony.
Unfortunately, Jamestown had a very poor geographic location. The drinking water was not healthy or drinkable, and Jamestown was located near wetlands, which attracted disease carrying mosquitoes that caused several illnesses. The colonists were unable to plant or gather food for the winter which caused more than half of them to die of starvation in the first year. However, John Rolfe later discovered that Virginia had the ideal conditions to grow tobacco which became a major cash crop for the colony.
Political Features
The local government consisted of the House of Burgesses, which was controlled by the Planter Elite. The House of Burgesses was very restricting as they limited voting and positions in office to white landowners only.
Slavery later became a political system that both resolved some political unrest and caused new problems. The social classes in this colony consisted of plantation owners, small farmers, landless whites, indentured servants, and slaves. Growing unrest of the former servants led to Bacon's rebellion in 1676. The former servants became increasingly frustrated with the fact that they could not obtain any land of their own and had to encroach on the Native American lands. An abundance of tobacco farming exhausted the soil causing western expansion which led to Native American conflict. Furthermore, the former servants believed that Governor Berkeley was being more friendly towards the Natives than towards the colonists. The combination of these factors led to Bacon's Rebellion, led by Nathaniel Bacon, which was an attack against the Native Americans in order to defy the governor. At the time, in Virginia, there was much political unrest.
Slavery later became a political system that both resolved some political unrest and caused new problems. The social classes in this colony consisted of plantation owners, small farmers, landless whites, indentured servants, and slaves. Growing unrest of the former servants led to Bacon's rebellion in 1676. The former servants became increasingly frustrated with the fact that they could not obtain any land of their own and had to encroach on the Native American lands. An abundance of tobacco farming exhausted the soil causing western expansion which led to Native American conflict. Furthermore, the former servants believed that Governor Berkeley was being more friendly towards the Natives than towards the colonists. The combination of these factors led to Bacon's Rebellion, led by Nathaniel Bacon, which was an attack against the Native Americans in order to defy the governor. At the time, in Virginia, there was much political unrest.
Economic Features
Jamestown, Virginia was originally an economic failure. The purpose of the colony was for trade and profit. Simply put, the colonists were looking for gold; however, after a dreadful first year, more than half of the colonists were dead and no gold was to be found.
Thankfully, John Rolfe realized that Virginia was ideal for the cultivating of tobacco which soon became the most important economic feature of Virginia. Without this cash crop, Jamestown would have been a failure due to its poor economy. Tobacco farming and trading, quite literally, saved the colony from despair. Another economic aspect was the Headright System which allowed tobacco planters to receive 50 acres of Virginia land in exchange for paying for the passage of each indentured servant.
Thankfully, John Rolfe realized that Virginia was ideal for the cultivating of tobacco which soon became the most important economic feature of Virginia. Without this cash crop, Jamestown would have been a failure due to its poor economy. Tobacco farming and trading, quite literally, saved the colony from despair. Another economic aspect was the Headright System which allowed tobacco planters to receive 50 acres of Virginia land in exchange for paying for the passage of each indentured servant.
Social and Religious Features
Tobacco, fueling the economy, required much labor. Originally, the source of labor was from the indentured servants. In return for a paid voyage to the New World, indentured servants had to work as servants for a certain number of years and also participated in the Headright System. Later, slavery was introduced in 1619 as the new source of labor.
There were few women in the Virginia Colony. Tobacco brides (single women) were auctioned as wives for the price of 150 pounds of tobacco, and these wives were typically convicts.
In Jamestown, there were several social classes. The Yeoman Farmers had small plots of land. The Planter elite had access to the transatlantic trade as their land was located along the coast. The Backcountry Farmers had land in the backcountry, making it difficult to access the transatlantic trade. The landless and free former servants did not own any land. Slaves were given the very lowest social status, as there was the fear that the African slaves would unite with the poor whites to overthrow the government. This caused the emergence of racism towards African slaves. The Virginia colony was also Anglican and those who were non-Anglican were forced to leave the colony.
There were few women in the Virginia Colony. Tobacco brides (single women) were auctioned as wives for the price of 150 pounds of tobacco, and these wives were typically convicts.
In Jamestown, there were several social classes. The Yeoman Farmers had small plots of land. The Planter elite had access to the transatlantic trade as their land was located along the coast. The Backcountry Farmers had land in the backcountry, making it difficult to access the transatlantic trade. The landless and free former servants did not own any land. Slaves were given the very lowest social status, as there was the fear that the African slaves would unite with the poor whites to overthrow the government. This caused the emergence of racism towards African slaves. The Virginia colony was also Anglican and those who were non-Anglican were forced to leave the colony.