By the early 1700’s and after frequent battles with the Native Americans, the Chesapeake colonist made their fortunes through the growing and trading of tobacco. Tobacco was the primary reason for the survival of the Chesapeake colony. Along with the battles, the colonists died from starvation and disease those who survived learned how to farm and trade tobacco. The colonists were able to use indentured servants for some time to cultivate their tobacco and harvest the fields before importing slaves to the colony to work in the tobacco plantations. While some may believe that the way the colony grew in population by trading tobacco for women to serve them and later marry and have children was immoral, others may argue that it was an intelligent way of increasing their population. Unfortunately one of the most unforgettable parts of history the Chesapeake colony gave to American people today is the beginning of slavery, out of need for inexpensive controlled labor to work in the tobacco plantations. It took the country years to overcome this lifestyle and way of living. Arguably, the most valuable event in history that the Chesapeake colony did for the future of America was the start of their government. The colonists decided with the different classes of people, laws needed to put into place for governing. The Virginia colonist in 1619 created the House of Burgesses, which has some basis for how the countries forefathers based the constitution on. Each part of history has an impact and meaning to the future of the country and its people.
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