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)
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