Colonial Development Colonial Development

The ChesapeakeThe Chesapeake

Chesapeake ColoniesChesapeake Colonies

Dominated by a plantation economic systemDominated by a plantation economic system Slavery & indentured servitude in all Slavery & indentured servitude in all

colonies (Africans after late 17colonies (Africans after late 17thth C) C) A privileged few control large quantity of A privileged few control large quantity of

lands (aristocratic)lands (aristocratic) Church of England (Anglican) most Church of England (Anglican) most

prominent…religiously tolerant regionprominent…religiously tolerant region Expansion views came from need for more Expansion views came from need for more

landland

Jamestown Fort & SettlementJamestown Fort & Settlement(Computer Generated)(Computer Generated)

Jamestown Fort & SettlementJamestown Fort & Settlement(Computer Generated)(Computer Generated)

Jamestown HousingJamestown Housing

Tobacco EconomyTobacco Economy

Workers were mostly white indentured Workers were mostly white indentured servants until late 1600’s, then Africansservants until late 1600’s, then Africans

Headright System:Headright System: 50 acres of land to any 50 acres of land to any person who pays the passage of a white person who pays the passage of a white indentured servantindentured servant

Planters used the system to gain huge Planters used the system to gain huge tracts of land & workers!tracts of land & workers!

By 1700, 100,000 indentured servants By 1700, 100,000 indentured servants came over (~75% of all Europeans in came over (~75% of all Europeans in Virginia and Maryland)Virginia and Maryland)

Jamestown Colonization Pattern:Jamestown Colonization Pattern:1620-16601620-1660Jamestown Colonization Pattern:Jamestown Colonization Pattern:1620-16601620-1660

Tobacco PlantTobacco Plant

Bacon’s RebellionBacon’s Rebellion

Bacon’s RebellionBacon’s Rebellion

Former indentured servants (Freedmen) frustrated Former indentured servants (Freedmen) frustrated at lack of available good lands in eastern Va.at lack of available good lands in eastern Va.

Forced to squat in western part of colony, near/on Forced to squat in western part of colony, near/on Native American landsNative American lands

Native Americans didn’t like the expansion into Native Americans didn’t like the expansion into their landstheir lands

Freedmen mad that their gov’t wasn’t doing Freedmen mad that their gov’t wasn’t doing anything to protect themanything to protect them

Freedmen become organized into a militia led by Freedmen become organized into a militia led by Nathaniel BaconNathaniel Bacon

Bacon’s RebellionBacon’s Rebellion

Significance: Planters (elite) saw indentured Significance: Planters (elite) saw indentured servants as too difficult to control as servants as too difficult to control as Freedmen…..so they imported more Freedmen…..so they imported more Africans insteadAfricans instead

Significance: Planters (elite) controlled the Significance: Planters (elite) controlled the poor whites psychologically by telling them poor whites psychologically by telling them they were better than blacksthey were better than blacks

??Long term consequences of this????Long term consequences of this??