what was the reason for settlement in virginia

In 1607, English colonization began in Virginia with Jamestown

, which would become the first permanent English settlement in North America. The Virginia Company colony was looking for gold and spices, and land to grow crops, however they would find no fortunes in the area, and struggled to maintain a food supply.

Full Answer

Why was Virginia founded as a colony?

Virginia Settlement. One of the New England colonies and chartered by James I in 1606, Virginia was founded to give the English territorial claims to America as well as to offer a colonial market for trade.

What was the first exploration and settlement in Virginia?

Exploration and Settlement of Virginia. John Cabot, the Italian mariner sailing for Henry VII, established the English claim to much of North America by his voyages of 1497 and 1498; whether he actually sighted Virginia is not known. The voyage of Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524 established the French claim to the area.

Why did the Virginia Colony explore the James River?

Under orders from London to seek a more inland location safe from Spanish raids, they explored the Hampton Roads area and sailed up the newly christened James River to the Fall Line at what would later become the cities of Richmond and Manchester.

How did the Louisiana Purchase affect the settlement of Virginia?

Virginia's heavy farming of tobacco for 200 years had depleted its soils. The 1803 Louisiana Purchase only accelerated the westward movement of Virginians out of their native state. Many of the Virginians whose grandparents had created the Virginia Establishment began to emigrate and settle westward.

What is Virginia's economy?

Virginia has developed a well-balanced economy far beyond its original agricultural base, and since the 1960s the state’s annual economic productivity usually has been slightly higher than that of the United States as a whole. Farming now accounts for just a tiny fraction of the total yearly value of the state’s goods and services, and manufacturing, while a leading sector in the mid-20th century, has been surpassed by the services sector. The high-technology sector has expanded considerably since the late 20th century, especially in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., although Hampton Roads and the city of Richmond also have become areas of concentration. The federal government has remained a dominant economic presence in Virginia. Indeed, the many military institutions within the state’s boundaries (as well as headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency) and Virginia’s proximity to Washington, D.C., have supported economic growth. Virginia ranks among the top states in per capita distribution of federal funds and has one of the highest per capita incomes in the Southern region.

What is Virginia's forestry industry?

Virginia’s forestry industry taps both the hardwood resources from the uplands and pine from the lower-lying areas. Hardwood boards are the primary product of the state’s sawmills. Pine is the principal pulpwood. Since the 1970s the government has implemented reforestation programs to counter the risk of overharvesting—particularly of pine resources.

What are the fisheries in Virginia?

Products from the bay include flounder, bass, and a number of other edible finfish, as well as oysters, hard and soft clams, and blue crabs. Large amounts of schooling menhaden are caught in large nets and processed for their oil and for protein-rich fish meal. Considerable quantities of sea clams and scallops are harvested in the Atlantic, and large ocean fish, such as swordfish and tuna, are caught on baited hooks strung out on lines that are suspended relatively close to the ocean’s surface. Aquaculture, focusing primarily on hard clams and oysters, has grown notably since the turn of the 21st century. Virginia and Maryland both have passed antipollution laws aimed to conserve Chesapeake Bay as a safe environment for fishing as well as general recreation.

What are the main minerals in Virginia?

The main commercial minerals mined in Virginia include coal from the southwest and stone, clay, sand, and gravel from many areas. Nearly half the state’s power is drawn from coal, while nuclear generators provide about one-third of Virginia’s energy. Petroleum and natural gas each account for just a small portion of the state’s power production.

What are the main agricultural products of Virginia?

Poultry, cattle and dairy products, grains and feeds, and vegetables are the state’s principal agricultural products. Rockingham county in the Shenandoah Valley is home to one of the country’s major turkey-raising operations. Although not among the primary products, Virginia’s apples and peaches are famous, especially those from the orchards around Winchester and in other areas of the northwestern region.

Where are Virginia apples and peaches grown?

Although not among the primary products, Virginia’s apples and peaches are famous, especially those from the orchards around Winchester and in other areas of the northwestern region. Virginia’s forestry industry taps both the hardwood resources from the uplands and pine from the lower-lying areas.

Is Richmond a black city?

The increase in agricultural mechanization and productivity, with an attendant decrease in acreage and number of farms, has sent both Black and white Virginians to the cities for their livelihood. The population of Richmond is more than one-half African American; rural Charles City county, lying in the urban corridor, also is largely Black. However, the counties to the west of the Blue Ridge have mainly small family-run farms, and the African American population is small in comparison with those of the Piedmont and Tidewater regions.

Who established the French claim to Virginia?

The voyage of Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524 established the French claim to the area. The first known European settlement in Virginia was erected by Spanish missionaries in 1570; it lasted only weeks before being destroyed by Native American attacks.

Who explored Virginia?

Exploration and Settlement of Virginia. John Cabot, the Italian mariner sailing for Henry VII, established the English claim to much of North America by his voyages of 1497 and 1498; whether he actually sighted Virginia is not known. The voyage of Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524 established the French claim to the area. ...

Where was the first colony established?

In 1584, the first effort by the English to establish a permanent colony was made at Roanoke Island, which was then considered to be part of Virginia (but later would be North Carolina ).

What happened in the 1650s?

During the 1650s, when Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector in England, royal authority lapsed in Virginia. This accorded the colonists additional opportunity to govern their own affairs. Most Virginians remained supporters of the monarchy, however, and the colony welcomed fleeing Cavaliers, supporters of the future king - Charles II.

Who Founded Virginia?

The occupants at that time were tribes of Algonquain, Iroquoian and Siouan peoples in the late 16th century, Sir Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth 1st named the area – Virginia in honor of the Virgin Queen.

What is Virginia known for?

Since Virginia was the site of the first permanent English settlement, the state is known as “the birthplace of a nation.”. As well as the “Mother of Presidents” Eight Virginia born gentlemen succeeded to the highest office in the land, including four of the first five presidents. Other facts of note are that battlefields in Virginia were ...

Why was the Isle of Wight named after the settlers?

Tragically Lawne and four-fifths of those who came with died within a year due to the location they chose was low, swampy and mosquito-infested. The group was given an extension of time to establish their settlement and the property should be known as Isle of Wight instead of the dreaded Warrosquoyacke. There had been many spellings and pronunciations that caused confusion. The name Isle of Wight was probably chosen for the home of one of the settlers, Sir Richard Worsley, located on an island off the coast of England.

Why did John Smith cross the James River?

John Smith and his men crossed the James River in 1608 to trade 30 bushels of corn with the local Native Americans. It was noted at that time that the land was very similar to their settlement site in Jamestown and perhaps this was a new area to explore and settle another area in the new world.

What did the English find in the colonists?

What they found was a hostile environment. The English gentlemen were ill suited to deal with the weather, swamps, poisonous snakes and soil that was not suited for crops. Most of the original colonists were gentlemen who had no real ability for farming. A friendly relationship with the local natives helped them survive.

What was the promise of 50 acres for each immigrant?

Most of these men were well educated gentleman and the promise of 50 acres for each immigrant imported was an exciting proposition for land and the promise of adventure! Adventure was what they found with hard work, failure of crops, disease and the massacre by the natives in 1622 and again in 1644.

Where did Arthur Smith IV lay out his land?

Arthur Smith IV laid out a portion of his land on Pagan Creek into streets and lots. The location was deemed healthy and open to trade and navigation and would hereby be known as “Smithfield.”

What was the first colony in Virginia?

In 1607, permanent English colonization began in Virginia with Jamestown. The Virginia Company colony was looking for gold but failed, and the colonists could barely feed themselves. The famine during the harsh winter of 1609 forced the colonists to eat leather from their clothes and boots and resort to cannibalism. The colony nearly failed until tobacco emerged as a profitable export. It was chiefly grown on plantations, using primarily indentured servants for the intensive hand labor involved. After 1662, the colony turned black slavery into a hereditary racial caste. By 1750, the primary cultivators of the cash crop were West African slaves. While the plantations thrived because of the high demand for tobacco, most white settlers would raise their families on subsistence farms. Warfare with the Virginia Indian nations had been an ongoing factor during the 17th century. After 1700, there was continued conflict with natives east of the Alleghenies, especially in the French and Indian War (1754–1763), when the tribes were allied with the French. The westernmost counties including Wise and Washington, only became safe with the death of Bob Benge in 1794.

How long did it take for the first colonists to land in Virginia?

In December 1606, the London Company dispatched a group of 104 colonists in three ships: the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery, under the command of Captain Christopher Newport. After a long, rough voyage of 144 days, the colonists finally arrived in Virginia on April 26, 1607 at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. At Cape Henry, they went ashore, erected a cross, and did a small amount of exploring, an event which came to be called the "First Landing."

How many Virginians left the South?

Historians estimate that one million Virginians left the commonwealth between the Revolution and the Civil War. With this exodus, Virginia experienced a decline in both population and political influence Prominent Virginians formed the Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society to preserve the legacy and memory of its past. At the same time, with Virginians settling so much of the west, they brought their cultural habits with them. Today, many cultural features of the American South can be attributed to Virginians who migrated west.

What was the population of Virginia in 1830?

The population grew slowly from 700,000 in 1790, to 1 million in 1830, to 1.2 million in 1860. Virginia was the largest state joining the Confederate States of America in 1861.

How did tobacco affect the American colonies?

As the English increasingly used tobacco products, tobacco in the American colonies became a significant economic force, especially in the tidewater region surrounding the Chesapeake Bay. Vast plantations were built along the rivers of Virginia, and social/economic systems developed to grow and distribute this cash crop. Some elements of this system included the importation and employment of slaves to grow crops. Planters would then fill large hogsheads with tobacco and convey them to inspection warehouses. In 1730, the Virginia House of Burgesses standardized and improved quality of tobacco exported by establishing the Tobacco Inspection Act of 1730, which required inspectors to grade tobacco at 40 specified locations.

What was the role of Virginia planters in the Declaration of Independence?

Virginia planters had a major role in gaining independence and in the development of Democratic-Republican ideals of the United States. They were important in the Declaration of Independence, writing the Constitutional Convention (and preserving protection for the slave trade), and establishing the Bill of Rights.

When did the Virginia Company charter change?

In 1624 , the Virginia Company's charter was revoked and the colony transferred to royal authority as a crown colony, but the elected representatives in Jamestown continued to exercise a fair amount of power. Under royal authority, the colony began to expand to the North and West with additional settlements.

Why was Virginia founded?

Virginia was founded primarily for the purpose of profit by the joint-stock owned Virginia Company of London. It was also important in giving England territorial claims in America to match Spanish and French expansion, and to also give England markets and resources in the New World.

What problems did the Virginia Company face in 1609?

The problems eventually made the Virginia Company go bankrupt.

When was Jamestown founded?

The first successful settlement in the Virginia colony founded in May, 1607. Harsh conditions nearly destroyed the colony but in 1610 supplies arrived with a new wave of settlers. The settlement became part of the Virginia Company of London in 1620. The population remained low due to lack of supplies until agriculture was solidly established. Jamestown grew to be a prosperous shipping port when John Rolfe introduced tobacco as a major export and cash crop.

Why was food scarce in the early settlements?

The period early in any settlements development when food and supplies are scarce due to lack of preparation, unfamiliarity with the surroundings, weather, and inability to successfully grow crops. The starving time usually cost a large percentage of the settlers lives and lasted for the first few years.

How did Virginia succeed politically?

Virginia succeeded politically in terms of creating the House of Burgesses as a semi-democratic assembly and forcing governors to cooperate with the legislature. They did this through the power of the purse as governors did not control money, and therefore depended on the legislature for they salaries.

What was the name of the group of supporters of Charles I during the English Civil War?

The group of supporters of Charles I in the English Civil War which lasted from 1642-1648. The term Cavalier continued to be used to mean any supporter of the British crown, especially Americans who were British sympathizers during the American Revolution.

Why did the slaves work for a certain amount of time?

The servants, who were usually white, worked for a certain amount of time so to pay off their debt. This practice led to social tensions with such eruptions as Bacon's Rebellion and eventually was replaced by race slavery.

What was the first settlement in Virginia?

The first settlement in what became known as the Virginia Colony was Jamestown, which was founded in 1607. It was set up to be the center of the Virginia Colony's government and commerce. Later in 1624, Virginia was created as a royal colony that included the original Jamestown settlement, when King James I revolked the charter of the bankrupt Virginia Company and the colony transferred to royal authority as a crown colony, but the elected representatives in Jamestown continued to exercise a fair amount of power. Under royal authority, the colony began to expand to the North and West with additional settlements. In 1630, under the governorship of John Harvey, the first settlement on the York River was founded. In 1632, the Virginia legislature voted to build a fort to link Jamestown and the York River settlement of Chiskiack and protect the colony from Indian attacks. This fort would become Middle Plantation and later Williamsburg, Virginia. In 1634, a palisade was built near Middle Plantation. This wall stretched across the peninsula between the York and James rivers and protected the settlements on the eastern side of the lower Peninsula from Indians. The wall also served to contain cattle.

Who were the first people to settle in Virginia?

The people of the expedition consisted of 'gentlemen' and farmers. The first settlement in what became known as the Virginia Colony was Jamestown, which was founded in 1607.

What is the history of Virginia?

The recorded History of Virginia began with settlement of the geographic region now known as the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States, previously settled thousands of years ago by Native Americans. The earliest visits to the area were conducted primarily by English and Spanish explorers. After early attempts by Spain to establish a colony in the 1570's were abandoned , permanent European settlement did not occur until the establishment of Jamestown in 1607, by English colonists. As tobacco emerged as a profitable export, Virginia imported more Africans to cultivate it and hardened boundaries of slavery. The Virginia Colony became the wealthiest and most populated British colony in North America.

How many shires were there in the Virginia colony?

Also in 1634, a new system of local government was created in the Virginia Colony by order of the King of England. Eight shires were designated, each with its own local officers. These shires were renamed as counties only a few years later. They were:

Why did Virginia import tobacco?

As tobacco emerged as a profitable export, Virginia imported more Africans to cultivate it and hardened boundaries of slavery. The Virginia Colony became the wealthiest and most populated British colony in North America.

When was the first settlement on the York River?

In 1630 , under the governorship of John Harvey, the first settlement on the York River was founded. In 1632, the Virginia legislature voted to build a fort to link Jamestown and the York River settlement of Chiskiack and protect the colony from Indian attacks.

When was Virginia created?

Later in 1624 , Virginia was created as a royal colony that included the original Jamestown settlement, when King James I revolked the charter of the bankrupt Virginia Company and the colony transferred to royal authority as a crown colony, but the elected representatives in Jamestown continued to exercise a fair amount of power.