Relationship Of The American Indians And The Virginia Colonists

While the first two sections of the book provide the historical context of the settling of the Virginia colony, the last two demonstrate Morgan’s theory of how racism was developed to ensure a sustainable workforce. The rise of the labor theory demonstrates how slavery itself became a necessary business venture in Virginia while at the same time justified the Revolutionary concepts of liberty and equality for all white men. The belief that only the men, or white Englishmen

From the very first interaction, the social and political relations between the Native Americans and the Europeans had begun with much tension. Many Europeans came to the Americas with the intention of discovery. However, when it became apparent that these new lands were inhibited the motives changed, and then the natives were colonized, abused, and in many cases killed. From then and throughout the impending periods of time, the relations between the natives and the Europeans had a few points of mutual peacefulness, but were overall negative.

The farmers in the Chesapeake region began to plant tobacco everywhere they could since the land was perfect for it. In fact, since there was such a demand for it, tobacco began “[d]ominating the [Chesapeake] region after 1622[. T]obacco remained the staple of the Chesapeake colonies and its phenomenal rise is one of the most remarkable aspects of our colonial history.” The Chesapeake colonies played a significant role in the ‘Triangle Trade’ otherwise known as the relationship between the trades in Africa, America, and Europe. Chesapeake supplied tobacco to England. England would then sell that tobacco and supply finished goods to the colonies. England brought slaves from Africa to work on Chesapeake plantations using rum imported from New England. As more slaves were brought to America the colonies would produce more tobacco ready to be exported to England. “Import of tobacco into England increased from 60,000 pounds in 1622 to 500,000 in 1628 and to 1,500,000 pounds in 1639.” Agriculture dominated every part of life in the Chesapeake region, from family life to religion to the economy. In contrast, since agriculture played since a miniscule role in New England the average family life and role of religion and the economy of New England varied greatly from that in

Because the low-grade tobacco was being overproduced unceasingly, prices dropped over the years. Tobacco had been the colony’s sole way of income for many years. Berkeley attempted to improve conditions by introducing other industries and building new towns in several places. Unfortunately, the towns could not be maintained and other attempts only resulted in dissatisfaction and increased taxes. Taxes were also increased due to a need for defense against the Dutch and the Indians. The rising price of English manufactured goods and the increasingly limited English market created more problems for the Virginians.

Imagine a person bought something that the person valued. The person was the owner of the product and took good care of it.Then, all of a sudden, a stranger comes and takes that product and declares it “discovered”. Now since the stranger “discovered” it, the product now has to be shared among them. This is similar to what happened to Native Americans in North America. Native Americans owned and lived in North America for several thousand years. Then, all of a sudden, European explorers came to North America and claimed the land “discovered”. Europeans started moving into the land and later, started sharing the land. Encounters between Europeans and Native Americans in the colonial era led to the exchange of diseases with Native Americans,

Virginia had many failures and close calls, while Massachusetts had successful first settlements, smart decisions regarding food and planning made this possible. In 1607 colonist landed on the banks of Jamestown Virginia only to be greeted by disease causing mosquitoes. Did not had good leadership until John Smith and John Rolfe, while Massachusetts had John Winthrop who developed the settlement with success. The settlers of Virginia had The Jamestown Nightmare. Many people died looking for gold and not learning how to use the land for survival. The Gentlemen would not work themselves resulting in Settlers dyeing by the dozens. Because the laws of primogeniture, many young gentlemen in the English colonies had to make their own fortune. John Rolfe implemented, “If You Don’t Work…You Don’t Eat.” Massachusetts was started by John Winthrop. The differences in the settlements upbringings were not the only difference, their views on religion helped shape the economy of both settlements. Virginia and Massachusetts both realized that they needed to have a strong economy, but their views on religion versus profit differed and resulted in different systems. Massachusetts was a safe haven for Catholics; Massachusetts learned the best way to survive in the area was by watching and interacting with the natives. John Winthrop stated, “We shall be a city upon a hill.” This was going to be a holy city.

This settlement was instituted by the English government to earn money, and most importantly sell tobacco. Tobacco is the reason why this colony survived the harsh conditions of North America. George Alsop wrote about the importance of Tobacco in 1660. Tobacco was not only important to lifestyle in Virginia, it was also important where George lived in Maryland. "Tobacco is the only solid Staple Commodity of this Province."

Could ignorance contributed to the colonists “savage-like” tendencies? Could this ignorance be the same ignorance the colonists accused the Virginian Indians of exhibiting?

The history of America is built upon the foundation of the settlers uneasy relations with the Native Americans. The colonists and the Native Americans relationship differed within each group of settlers and each tribe in different colonies. Despite select native tribes starting off with a civil relationship with the colonists; a clash of different lifestyles, cultures and beliefs between them eventually led to many conflicts with one another no matter what colony.

When a disease started to spread, it affected almost everyone. In Document E, Eliza Pinckney wrote a letter to a friend about the spread of smallpox. In the letter, Eliza explains that this disease has halted all business and have forced people to flee to the countryside. Disease caused the settlers to suffer the loss of a large amount of their community. Eliza also spoke of the Indians in her letter. “We expect shortly troops from Gen. Amherst, which I trust will be able to manage these savage Enemies” (Document E) This quote is Eliza explaining to her friend how she hopes they can get rid of the “savage” Indians. Another difficulty to the settler were the strained relationship between them and the Indians. The Indians did not like the settlers taking their land and controversy between the two happened

In the early seventeenth Century, the big tide of immigrants began to flow from Europe to North America. In the beginning of the immigration, the initial number of people were only a few hundred of British, and gradually became a huge immigration of millions people. They were driven by a variety of powerful motives, and finally established a new civilization on the new land. In the 1607, the English founded their first settlement, Virginia (P36). The reason why English colonists chose Virginia is this place produces “an American plant” called tobacco (P37). Selling tobacco to European market, the colonists earned a big profit. As a result, they built a lot of plantations in Chesapeake.

In the articles of focus a central theme is developed and they all revolve around the American Paradox mentioned in Morgan’s article, “Slavery and Freedom: The American Paradox.” Morgan argued that slavery and freedom accompany each other. Morgan believed, “[the] rise of liberty and equality in this country was accompanied by the rise of slavery.” While Morgan had his opinion, there were authors who felt the same and some who felt different. Breen and Innes thought like Morgan, and believed that “the poor or unfree, especially if they were black…” had a harder time in the world. Because tobacco was such a demanding crop, a lot of it had to be produced and slavery became more of a demand also.

Many colonies would not have survived if it wasn’t for the discovery and growing of tobacco, as this plant enabled the colonies to thrive, and even have a surplus of profit, therefore they could afford more servants, thus, creating a continuous travel of immigrants into the colony, overall creating stable colonies.

There are many reasons that settler move to change their lives for the better and participate in different opportunities for trade. The motive for the individuals that of the Plymouth colony was to leave Europe for religious freedom and for opportunities of a better life.

This was a letter to the king of Britain. The colonists were updating him on how Jamestown was doing. The colonists found out that Virginia was a complete opposite of the Indies. In the Indies, the landscape is different. The Indies is very humid and warm. That is perfect weather for cultivating many fruits and vegetables in a great abundance. In Virginia, there is snow, which is hard for plants to live. There are different resources found in the Indies versus Virginia. If Virginia had the same climate, resources, and landscape it would have thrived. The Natives in Virginia would have rather died than becoming slaves. The colonists were upset in a way. They were upset that the Natives did not have a colony established. The colonists had to build the colony from scratch. Spain and Portugal established colonies in other areas and those areas prospered tremendously. The Indians did not value items that were not edible. The Indians were more worried about surviving and feeding their tribe. Corn was vital to the Indians. Corn was stored during the winter to feed the