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In this lecture on the history of the Virginia Colony, Tom Richey discusses the failed attempt by Walter Raleigh to plant a permanent settlement on Roanoke Island during a war with Spain and the early hardships endured by the settlers of the Jamestown Colony and the leadership of John Smith. John Rolfe changed the fortunes of the Virginia Colony (and of the entire Chesapeake region) when he planted a new strain of tobacco that grew well in the Chesapeake climate. Tobacco became the primary cash crop in the Chesapeake region during the colonial period.
The second part of this lecture focuses on the labor sources employed in the Virginia Colony and tensions between the settlers and the local Powhatan Indians. Indentured servants were the primary labor force in Virginia in the early 17th century but in the late 17th century - especially following Bacon's Rebellion in 1676 - African slavery became much more prominent. The planting of cash crops required a lot of land and the English colonists continued to press into the interior of Virginia. In 1622, the Powhatan Indians struck back, killing over 300 colonists in what is known as the 1622 Indian Massacre.
The content of this lecture spans the end of APUSH Period 1 and the beginning of APUSH Period 2. In most APUSH textbooks, this content will be found in either Chapter 1 or Chapter 2.
To view the second part of this lecture: • The Virginia Colony (P...
For more APUSH Colonial America lectures, check out my Colonial America Playlist: • Colonial America (APUS...
My complete playlist of APUSH review lectures can be found here: • APUSH Review Playlist ...