Virginia Colony

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Virginia Colony

• VS.4 a, b, c, d, e
• By Mrs. Nicholson

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Tobacco

• The colony needed money to survive because the
  stockholders would not keep giving money unless
  they made money.
• Luckily in 1612, John Rolfe got seeds of tobacco
  grown in the Caribbean Islands. He planted them
  in Virginia. This was a success!
• Tobacco became Virginias 1st
• successful crop.
• It is called a cash crop because it was grown
  to sell for money rather than be used by the
  grower.

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Green Gold

• Tobacco changed the colony. A large amount of
  land was needed. Other colonies formed along the
  James River.
• Wealthy land owners set up large farms called
  plantations. People who owned plantations were
  called planters. Most Virginia farmers had
  small farms not plantations.
• Colonists used tobacco to barter (trade) for
  items or pay off debts.

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Tobacco Continued to Prosper

• Virginias soil was very fertile. This made it
  really good to grow crops.
• Plantations and smaller farms began to spread
  west.
• The economy of the Virginia colony depended on
  agriculture as a primary source of wealth.
  Tobacco was the most profitable product.
• But.

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Agriculture Influenced Slavery

• The success of the tobacco depended on a steady
  and cheap source of labor (work).
• African men, women and children were brought to
  the colony against their will to work as slaves.
• The colony became highly dependent on slave labor.

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Settling the State

• English and other Europeans settled in the
  Tidewater and Piedmont Regions.
• Africans settled mainly in the Tidewater and
  Piedmont regions where tobacco and farming needed
  a lot of workers.
• Germans and Scotch-Irish settled in the
  Shenandoah Valley.
• Before settlers came Indians lived all over the
  state but, they were forced off their land.

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Capital Movement

• The capital of Virginia moved from Jamestown to
  Williamsburg in 1699.
• WHY?
• A fire destroyed wooden and brick buildings in
  Jamestown. Rather than rebuild, they decided to
  move.
• The drinking water was better in Williamsburg.
• There was less disease and healthier living
  conditions.
• Fun Fact Williamsburg was originally called
  Middle Plantation.

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Capital Movement

• The capital of Virginia moved from Williamsburg
  to Richmond in 1780.
• WHY?
• Population was moving west. ?
• Richmond was a more central location.
• Moving to Richmond increased the distance from an
  attack by the British.
• Fun Fact Thomas Jefferson was the Governor at
  this time.

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Everyday Life in the Colony

• People living in Colonial Virginia depended on
  natural, human and capital resources to produce
  the goods and services they needed.
• Everyday life was different for all

White Enslaved African Americans Free African Americans
Most made their living from the land as small farmers. Few owned large farms (plantations). Most worked tobacco crops and livestock. They had NO rights. Many free African Americans owned their own businesses and property but they were denied most rights.
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Everyday Life in the Colony
Food Housing Clothing
Food choices were limited. Meals were made from the local crops and meats. Most people lived in one-roomed homes with dirt floors. Some farmers (planters) lived in large houses. Households made their own clothing. Most clothing was made out of cotton, wool and leather.
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Architecture and Landscape

• The culture of colonial Virginia reflected
  beliefs, customs and architecture of all those
  living in the area.

Examples of locations that reflect
culture English-Richmond Indian - Roanoke
Examples of buildings that reflect
culture Barns Homes Worship Centers
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College of William Mary

• Founded in 1693
• This was Virginias first college.
• It was the second college of the English
  colonies.
• The college is named after King William Queen
  Mary.

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Money, Barter, Credit

• Money was not often used in early Virginia. Few
  people had paper money and coins to buy supplies
  with. Colonial Virginia had NO banks.
• Barter (Trade) was used instead of money.
• Tobacco was the most bartered item.

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Terms to Know

• Money- currency, a way of exchange, bills
• Barter- trade or exchange
• Credit- buying a good now and
• paying for it later
• Debt- a good or service owed to another
• Savings- money put away for a later time
• Farmers and others could buy goods and services
  on credit. Then, they would pay their debts back
  when their crops were harvested and sold.