Introduction – Ingrid Grant and Damita Ware

The Chesapeake region of the English colonies included Virginia, Maryland, the New Jerseys, and Pennsylvania.  The Chesapeake economy was based on the cultivation of tobacco and the profits that came with it.  In order for the tobacco planters to earn a profit servants were needed to maintain the supply and demand which led to indentured servants and eventually slavery. To cultivate the tobacco, planters brought in large numbers of English workers, mostly young men who came as indentured servants (Roark, et al, 2009).  Laws were soon implemented that enforced slavery versus indentured servants allowing the planters dominance over the poorer class.  Eventually the status of slaves and indentured servants became similar.  Most women came to Chesapeake as indentured servants because manpower was scarce during these times; however restrictions were placed on them in regards to their duties as wives, mothers, and servants (Main, 1982).  Children of the colony were required to learn how to read and write as well to be extremely well mannered and respectable. Government and politics strengthened the distinctions in Chesapeake society with the most vital distinction being separation of servants and masters. The government strengthened this distinction by enforcing the separation of the rich upper class government and the poor lower class colonists which led to “Bacon’s Rebellion” (Roark, et al, 2009).  These topics will be discussed in greater detail, throughout the body of this electronic research paper and further enlighten the Chesapeake colonies in the seventeenth century.

Resources

Roark, J. L., Johnson, M. P., Cohen, P. C., Stage, S., Lawson, A., Hartmann, S. M. 2009. The American Promise: A History of the United States. Boston New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Main, Gloria L. 1982. Tobacco Colony: Life in Early Maryland, 1650-1720.  Houghton Miffin Company.

The Indigenous Peoples of the Chesapeake Colonies--- By Christin Bechtel

For more than 10,000 years prior to the arrival of British settlers, native peoples were living and thriving in the naturally rich Chesapeake Bay region.  Many inhabited villages built around “longhouses” made of wood where several generations and extended families lived together (refer to attached image).   Labor was roughly divided with women working primarily as “gatherers” attending to agricultural needs, and men providing the “hunting” needs.   In 1607 all native people’s destinies were changed when the British settled Jamestown in a territory called Paspahegh, named for the local tribe of the same name.  The Paspahegh were one of roughly 30 tribes under the rule of the great Algonquian werowance , or “great chief” Powhatan (Tayak). 

One can only imagine the first impression these early English settlers made on the Natives.  While the English clearly possessed miraculous technologies such as forged iron and guns, they were nearly helpless in providing sustenance for themselves.   The combination of these two dichonomies must have been bewildering to the natives. 

Powhatan’s peoples mostly appeared friendly towards the new settlers in those first months, trading corn with the starving colonist despite evidence of drought resulting in probable diminishing food stores.  Very soon, however, increasing skirmishes and raids by both the English and the Natives escalated tensions between the two groups.   As the drought continued and in the late fall of 1609, the Natives were less willing to trade food supplies with the growing number of dependent settlers. Perhaps this was an unsuccessful bid to starve them out of their land once and for all (Roark).  Contact with the Europeans introduced numerous deadly diseases to Powhatans tribes, and epidemics swept through their numbers in 1608, 1617, and 1619 (Roark).

Despite numerous small battles, and many deaths on both sides, Powhatan never organized his forces for full war against the settlers for reasons not fully known.  After his death in 1618, Powhatan’s brother, Opechancanough, assumed the role of head chief.  He organized a partially successful assault on the settlers in 1622, killing as many as 1/3 of the colonists (Roark).  This act secured ongoing hatred and distrust between the English and the American Natives which prompted the English to eventually drive the natives out of the area once and for all.

           

Engraving of the American Indian town of Pomeiooc, published in Thomas Hariot's 1588 book A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. Illustration by Theodor de Bry.

Resources

Roark, Johnson, Cohen, Stage, Lawson, Hartmann. Bedford/St. Martin's 2009.“The

American Promise: A History of the United States, 4th Edition. Volume I: To 1877.”

Tayak, Gabrielle.  “Chesapeake Natives, Three Major Chiefdoms.” Web.<http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/native-chesapeake/1803>

The "Early Years" of the Chesapeake Colony, Disease and starvation --- Glenda McCoy

           In the early years of the colony many Native people died from epidemic diseases such as smallpox, measles, bubonic plague, and cholera.  As the European and English settlers migrated to the new world they bought many useful goods, trades and technology along with those things came diseases.  The Native people had little or no immunity to these deadly diseases.  The diseases were spread from person to person via contact and from being in close courters together, as a result at times Native people were infecting each other after contracting the disease from the colonists.  These diseases and how they were contracted weaken the Native people and at time nearly destroyed entire communities.

             In April, 1606, three English ships funded by the Virgina Company landed on the coast of the Chesapeake Bay carrying 144 hopeful new colonists.  Unfortunately, the new settlers were proved to be tragically unprepared for the hardships that lay before them.  In only 5 months, early September, 50 of the colonists were already dead.  By the time supply ships arrived in January 1608, only 38 of the original colonists had survived that first harsh winter in the New World.  By 1610, a total of more than 500 English (mostly men), had been transported to the new colony, and of these 500, only 60 or so survived through those first tough years(Roark, 2009).

 Of the original colonists, most died from New World disease, such as malaria or starvation. Most of the settlers were gentlemen and their servants, and knew nothing about farming or hunting. Without the skills and knowledge to grow, and farm their own food, they had little chance for survival.  Those who perished from starvation were greatly due to an unwillingness to give up the old-custom ways of gentlemen not to work with their hands, and tradesmen’s only in their trade. With nothing to trade they were unable to trade for food, or earn money to buy food.  The few colonists that did survive, and did not die of starvation were due to the willingness of the Native people to trade corn to the remaining settlers for English goods such has iron tools, beads or textiles (Roark, 2009).

Group of Pilgrims

Resources

Roark, Johnson, Cohen, Stage, Lawson, Hartmann. Bedford/St. Martin's 2009.“The

American Promise: A History of the United States, 4th Edition. Volume I: To 1877.”

Resources: nationalarchives.gov.uk/
www.boerner.net/jboerner/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/GroupofPrigrims.jpg

Resources: learnNC.org

The Politics and government of the Chesapeake Colonies – Marlene Huntsman

The purpose of the Virginia Company was to establish colonies and locate sources of wealth in the New World and produce profits for London investors.  In 1619 the House of Burgesses was created in Jamestown.  It was the first institution of representative governments in America, and consisting of representatives elected by the colonists, in which any free landholding adult man could partake in the voting process.  After decades of financial loss, King James I revoked the Virginia Company’s Charter and turned Virginia into a royal colony.  The king also appointed a governor and a twelve member council consisting of upper class residents.  “The governor had the most power of any, his duties included judicial, religious, military, appointing officials, and leader of legislature, but no power over public funds” or taxation, only the House of Burgesses held that power (Colonial South and the Chesapeake n.d.).  Constant struggles existed between the government, which consisted of upper class plantation owners and the poorer colonists. 

Government did more than create a political arena for the people of Chesapeake, it also defined social distinctions and contributed to colonist’s social perceptions.  “In general, government and politics strengthened the distinctions in Chesapeake society.”  “The most vital distinction separated servants and masters, and the colonial government enforced it with an iron fist” (Roark, et al. 2009).  This increasingly large division of social classes would eventually cause the colonists to form “Bacon’s Rebellion” led by Nathaniel Bacon.  Originally formed over disputes pertaining to Virginia Indian policy it quickly snowballed into a fight between the rich upper class government and the poor lower class colonists.  Bacon claimed that the government was only concerned with the upper class and had no intentions of improving life for the poor lower class colonists.  Laws were changed for a period of time due to this uprising, but unfortunately Bacon died and took with him all the new policies that he had helped establish.  After his death, a new governor was appointed and more taxes were placed on the colonies precious commodity tobacco.  Legislation regarding slaves were being set forth by the government.  This new Virginia legislative set laws in place to help masters with their unruly slaves. These laws encompassed anything from slaves running away to children born to slave mothers.  Harsh punishments relating to compensation to the master, and even death were handed down to any slave who broke these laws.

Further laws were set in place during this era to help keep order and maintain the upper class majority in the government.  Harmony, equality, and fairness were not concepts that the government tried to uphold during this time frame.  The rich stay rich and the poor stay poor, most of the rights of the upper class were regarded, while rights of the poor lower class colonists were disregarded.  For a while the rules and regulations set forth by the government were not questioned by the people, but eventually everyone wanted a right to be heard, own property, and be treated fairly.  People began fighting for equal and fair treatment.  Over time, the laws governing the people have changed and today we strive for the American dream.    

Original Jamestown Colony

Slaves on a Virginia Plantation

In 1607, a group of settlers first landed on Jamestown Island

The House of Burgesses

The House of Burgesses

Virginia Company Seals

    

Resources

Colonial South and the Chesapeake. http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/11245062 (accessed November 7, Sunday, 2010).

Roark, James L, Michael P Johnson, Patricia Cline Cohen, Sarah Stage, Alan Lawson, and Susan M Hartmann. The American Promise, A History of the United States. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009.

Indentured Servants and Slavery – Shannen Rimando

As the Chesapeake colonies began their mercantilist system, they developed institutions in which indentured servants and slavery would become important in their society.

It is estimated that near 80% of immigrants to the Chesapeake colonies in the 17^th century were indentured servants (Roark).  Indentured servants provided a sustainable amount of work force in the colonies until the installment of importing African slaves. Indentures slaves were usually immigrants who wanted to come to America due to lack of opportunity in England to elevate from their lowly class status, but didn’t have the money or means for the passage. To resolve this predicament, these people “sold” themselves for the costs of transportation. With this exchange, these immigrants agreed to work for a certain amount of time, often four to seven years, without compensation.  This system flourished for more than 150 years due to labor shortages in the growing colonies, but by the 1800s the numbers of indentured servants declined as the number of African slaves in the colony increased.

Slavery was the keystone of the Chesapeake colonies. The Chesapeake colonies started importing slaves from Africa.  The Chesapeake colonies focused on agriculture, which required a massive labor force.  The majority of the imported slaves worked either on farms tending to crops and livestock, or out in plantations fields.  The most notable area of work for these people was the tobacco plantation.  Gradually over time, slavery became a part of society and way of life.  As the indentured servants served their time (so to speak) and were freed, slaves took their positions as they were less expensive to maintain and their service lasted the total of their lives, extending to their children as well.  Slavery was crucial to the economy of Jamestown because the economy was passed on agriculture and trade.  Due to the major role slavery played in the economy and society, harsh laws and restrictions were placed upon these people.  This led to inequality, racism, and social distinction, which would take years to nullify.  . 

Slavery

 

Resources

Cheng, John. RACE - The Power of an Illusion. 2003. http://www.pbs.org/race/000_About/002_04-background-02-03.htm (accessed 2010 йил 3-11).

Dawson, James. Indentured Servants and Slaves. 6 25, 2009. http://niahd.wm.edu/?browse=entry&id=11810 (accessed 11 05, 2010).

Murphy, Nathan W. Origins of Colonial Chesapeake Indentured Servants. 3 2005. http://www.pricegen.com/resources/servants.htm (accessed 11 4, 2010).

Roark, Johnson. The American Promise: A History of the Unid States, 4th Edition. Volume I: To 1877. Boston: Bedford/St.Matrin's, 2009.

Websites used

http://www.pbs.org/race/000_About/002_04-background-02-03.htm

http://www.pricegen.com/resources/servants.htm

http://niahd.wm.edu/?browse=entry&id=11810

 

The Economic Base for the Chesapeake Colony – Diana Silva

Tobacco was introduced to Europe and Africa by the Spanish and Portuguese in the mid 1500’s.  When the English settlers came to the new world expecting easy riches, they quickly discovered that there was no gold to be found in the area around Jamestown.  The only gold to be found was located on the Spanish galleons that sailed along the coast traveling back to Spain.  The colonists didn’t have the means or the will to launch attacks on these vessels, so they quickly realized they had to pursue some other profitable livelihood.  They were urged by England to diversify. 

               Price for tobacco was very high in England at the time greatly due to Spain having the monopoly on tobacco and being the only supplier.  The climate and soil were perfect for cultivation of tobacco in the Chesapeake Bay area.  In addition, the geography of the Bay formed a natural port for shipping this golden crop.  In 1612, John Rolfe planted at Jamestown the first tobacco seeds smuggled in from Venezuela as an experiment.  The crops flourished, and this was the beginning of a growing export trade, 2300 pounds were harvested in 1615, which expanded to more than half a million pounds by 1620.  Other settlers within the Chesapeake area were quick to cash in on the bonanza, and by the 1670’s more than 10 million pounds were exported from the area.  (Miller) 

Indentured servants tending tobacco field

Hogshead.  Barrel used for storing and shipping tobacco

Tobacco drying sheds

Hogshead being rolled to the docks for shipping.

Moving the tobacco Hogsheads to the ship for the trip to England.

http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthewater/exhibition/1_3.html

Resources

Miller, Henry.  The Lure of Sotweed:  Tobacco and Maryland history.  http://www.stmaryscity.org/History/The%20Lure%20of%20Sotweed.html  (accessed November 8, 2010)



The Women of the Colonies – Rebecca Eger

The woman that had the most initial influence would be Pocahontas.  In 1607, she laid her head on top of Captain John Smith’s chopping block.  Some say it may have been ceremonial, as a display of the power that Chief Powhatan had, either way it helped build the diplomacy between Powhatan village and the Chesapeake colonies.  The diplomacy allowed for the growth of the Chesapeake colonies into Jamestown and the growing America without the English being completely wiped off the map.

In 1608, the first documented women from England were brought over to the Chesapeake colonies, Mrs. Forrest and her maid, Anne Burras, who was 14-15 at the time. At the end of 1608, the first Christian marriage took place between Anne and a carpenter, John Laydon.  In 1609, the newlyweds had the first child born to English parents in Jamestown, a little girl, Virginia Laydon.   While the Laydons were building the first English family in the area, more women were being sent to populate the area, as the ratio of men to women was skewed. The Virginia Company, in an attempt to strengthen the colonies, decided it should also branch out its marketing and ship in women as prospective brides and servants to the nearly all-male colony at a price of 120 lbs of tobacco each (Roark). Many of these women were of respectable background, coming to America mostly because their middle-class tradesmen fathers had died.

Women who were indentured servants had special restrictions and risks. They were prohibited from marrying until their servitude expired.  Due to the men of the colony, many women were pressured into sex, resulting in at least a third of the immigrants being pregnant when married.  If a servant woman gave birth, she might have to serve two extra years servitude and pay a fine. Some women would be bought out of servitude if pregnant, making her free to marry the father of the baby.  By 1618, women in England were being kidnapped and shoved on a boat which would set sail immediately for America. Kidnappers, only having to pay small fines for putting women on the boats, continued with the behavior because the end payoff of tobacco was so much greater than the fine.  In 1619, 90 young, single women arrived at Jamestown to become the wives of the colonists.  These women were auctioned off for 150 pounds of tobacco each.  The cost increased greatly over just a few years, allowing for greater profit for the kidnappers.  These women were called “tobacco brides”, and in 1620 this was a rampant way of allowing women free passage into America, where the colonial men could pay for their travel expense once they arrived at the new land.

Women at Governor Harvey's Jamestown industrial enclave, c. 1630.  Detail from painting by Keith Rocco.

National Park Service, “The Indispensable Role of Women at Jamestown,” U.S. Department of the Interior, http://www.nps.gov/jame/historyculture/the-indispensible-role-of-women-at-jamestown.htm (accessed November 5, 2010).

Colonial Women, 1876, H. W. Pierce.

A New England kitchen. A hundred years ago. Photograph of drawing by H.W. Pierce 1876.

The Library of Congress, “Settlement and Colonial Life,” Picks & Photographs Reading Room, http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/picamer/paSettle.html (accessed November 5, 2010).

1708-09 Henrietta Johnston (1674-1729). Unknown Lady. South Carolina Governor's Mansion

18^th Century American Women, “Timeline 1711-1730 & Paintings of American Women,” Blogspot, b-womeninamericanhistory18.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html (accessed November 5, 2010).

NPS artist Sydney King       "Jamestown Mother"

National Park Service, “A Diverse Jamestown Household 1620 – 1640,” U.S. Department of the Interior, http://www.nps.gov/jame/historyculture/new-towne-a-diverse-jamestown-household-1620-1640.htm (accessed November 5, 2010).

This Sedgeford portrait of Pocahontas and her son, Thomas Rolfe, carefully preserved through the centuries, although its travels and whereabouts have been been shrouded in mystery. Presently at Kings Lynn Museum.

Williamsburg Private Tours, “Pocahontas,” Williamsburg Private Tours, http://www.williamsburgprivatetours.com/CAPTAIN%20JOHN%20SMITH.htm (accessed November 5, 2010).

Resources

Frank E. Grizzard and D. Boyd Smith, Jamestown Colony: A Political, Social, and Cultural History (Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2001), 151-2.

J.L. Roark, Michael P. Johnson, Patricia Cline Cohen, Sarah Stage, Alan Lawson, and Susan M. Hartmann, The America Promise: A History of the United States (Boston/New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009), 82-6.

Lisa French, Daily Warm-Ups: U.S. History – Level II (Portland: J. Weston Walch Publishing, 2002), 2.

Gail Collins, America’s Women: Four Hundred Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines (New York: Harper-Collins Publishers, 2003), 1-11.