The Growth of the Chesapeake and Barbadian Colonies

Angela Young Professor Kelly Hopkins History 1377 June 18, 2012 The ingathering the Chesapeake and Barbadian Colonies M whatsoever with child(p) examples of how pi angiotensin converting enzymeers blazed trails and observe unchartered territories pop outline the fabric of American history. We put a man on the moon in the sixties and sight cures for about of our modern diseases. These are worthful accomplishments, simply there is an opposite that is vertical as significant in the mark of American history the colonization of our nation. fine accounts decorate our history with the hardship and vile of our forefathers.And although some historical accounts paint a bleak picture of primal settlements and learn that diseases, starvation and other factors were exhausting to overcome, we imply to recognize that there were successes. It would be unjust to only focus on the challenges without acknowlight-emitting diodeging their efficacy to thrive and prosper. To over tactual sensation the strategies that the Chesapeake and Barbadian societies employ to go and prosper would be a mistake, beca white plague we can contribute legion(predicate) of their decisions and actions to the building of todays political carcass and economy.Some historians may analyze these two societies and bespeak that their growing was a egress of culture from the mistakes of previous settlements. However, there is considerable attest to show that the Chesapeake and Barbadian colonies success extensivey grew and progressed as a society due to the use of hard workers as workers in the colonies, the accomplishment of destroy, and awkward exports to Eng come to obtain wealth. The purpose of this paper is to find the events responsible for the bring inment of the Chesapeake and Barbadian societies in the mid 1700s.The creation of the slave passel in America is arguably 1 of the major factors that led to the evolution of the Chesapeake and Barbadian colonies. The impor t of slaves cause a large nation explosion in both colonies. The act of blacks in both settlements increased importantly and outpaced that of the white universe of discourse all(prenominal) ex amid 1730 and 1760. In 1730 the black universe in the Virginia colony was 30,000 and doubled to 60,000 in 1740 and keep to increase steadily done 1770. 1 The doctor colony showed correspondent population increases with the number of blacks closely double in ize from 24,031 to 43,450 from 1740 to 1750. 2 The profile of the population in the Barbadian colony was as well as significant. Unlike the Virginia and Mary solid ground colonies, blacks outnumbered white almost 4 to 1 and were the majority in the population amongst 1655 and 1770. For example, slaves were 83 pct of the population in 1760 at 86,600 part the white population was 17,800. 3 What is the entailment of this population growth and their evolution? The colonies created a statute that would secured their in store(pr edicate) for generations. When Chesapeake experienced scotch growth large groves became more(prenominal) common.This created a need for workers. In turn, slavery led to great wealth for the colonies and became one of their greatest re ancestors for economic growth. Over the course of some(prenominal) decades more slaves were brought to America to fulfill the bespeak for workers to lay down and harvest tobacco and other crops. The colonist understood the rank of slave fag and the economic growth employ slaves would provide. Most importantly, they overly understood that the writ of execution of the slaves influenced their profit readiness. We can non discuss population growth in the colonies without acknowledging the ugly truth round slavery.Clearly one group of tidy sum suffered while some other benefited. Many can criticize the colonies for implementing such(prenominal) a cruel system for economic growth, but we must ask ourselves did slavery help them reach their go al of prosperity. subsequently all, slaves and indentured servants were a productive labor pool that helped them prosper economically during the early and middle years of colonization. Without needing to take a position on slavery, we plainly deduct that the back-breaking physical work of slaves is one of the alter factors that led to great wealth in the Virginia and Mary body politic colonies.Another factor contributing to the evolution of the Chesapeake and Barbadian colonies is land ownership. Since the beginning, colonists placed great value on land ownership. consume was a resource of prosperity and the most important indicator of wealth. To attract raw(a) settlers to America, colonists permitted them to own land. Although the colonists encouraged ownership, land was not equally distributed and was highly c at oncentrated in the hands of a few people. ground on register we can fudge a direct connection in the midst of plantation size in the Chesapeake and mendelevium regions based on the number of slaves animateness on them.For example, between 1750 and 1770, twenty or more slaves lived on around tierce of all plantations. Specially, 31% of all plantations had 21 or more slaves living on them from 1750 1759. 4 This average continued by dint of 1779. We can assume that white plantation owners possessing the largest plantations waste the largest number of slaves. There was a direct correlation between land ownership and wealth dispersal. Those that have the land possess the wealth. There was strong evidence of this in Barbados in 1680 where wealthy pioneers owning 60 or more slaves owned approximately 60% of all land and 60% of all slaves. Likewise, 14. 9% of Jamaican land owners possessed land valued at ? 1,000 or more. 6 This trend in like manner started as early as 1669 and continued up through 1750 in the Virginia colony. For instance, between 1700 1719, the wealthiest 5. 6 % of the male population owned 61. 5% of the total wealth and between 1720 1750 the wealthiest 2. 7 percent of males owned 33. 2% of wealth. 7 One of the greatest determine colonists recognized from land ownership was the acquisition of economic and political power. They could influence the future of their society because of the economic power they possessed.Most importantly, they had the office to advance their own interests. For example, they could make the rules for who owned the land and where they owned it. They could give land to their heirs to ensure that it remained in their familys will power for generations. Land ownership and wealth also meant political power. Those with the wealth could hold political office and shape the future of their colonies by making laws that would benefit them directly. The colonists experienced many long-term benefits from land ownership.However, they benefited at the expenditure of others by setting up a system that would intentionally prevent them from achieving any level of prosperity and succe ss. Some people may disagree with the method used by the colonies to prosper. However, the fact that they used others to advance their own goals does not cancel out the fact that land ownership and wealth moved them one step immediate to securing their position as a viable society. Agricultural exports also played a role in attainment of the of the Chesapeake and Barbadian colonies.Both colonies practiced exporting agricultural products to England and would finally build the wealth and improve their hackneyed of living. Prior to the 1620s growing crops was difficult for the colonist because early settlements did not have the knowledge and tools needed to grow them successfully. Barbadian settlers tried to grow crops such as tobacco, cotton, ginger, and indigo, but were unsuccessful. Over time, they learned which crops would grow successfully in their region. After overmuch trial and error, tobacco became the right plant to grow for Chesapeake and sugar for Barbados.Tobacco exp orts to England became the main source of income from Virginia and Maryland. Between 1660 and 1760 tobacco exports increased each decade. Along with the number of flogs increasing, the damage per pound of tobacco also increased. In 1740 England merchandise 35,372 pounds of tobacco at a price of 0. 80 pence sterling/pound. By 1770 the add up increased to 38,986 at 2. 06 pence sterling/per pound. Furthermore, the value of exports to England reached $435,094. 8 Additionally, sugar exports to England from Barbados yielded positive monetary results for the colonies.Sugar exports steadily increased from 1651 to 1698 with the highest being 15,587 scads in 1698. 9 This discussion about the impact of exports on the evolution of the colonies is not complete without acknowledging the role slavery played. As exports to England increased, the import of slaves also increased to live on the demand for tobacco. The more slaves owned by the colonists, the more crops could be harvested and exp orted to generate more revenue for the colonies. A closer look at the evidence doesnt forever and a day show a successful progression toward prosperity.Increases in the black population did not always significantly outnumber that of whites. Also, there is evidence that illustrates a drop in the value of exports to England from 1755 to 1770. While the value of exports was at their highest in 1750 at ? 508,939, they decreased to as low as ? 435,094 in 1770. 10 Tobacco exports to England also dropped in 1770. Additionally, once land ownership opened up to indentured servants and other settlers in the Chesapeake colony, the largest distribution of wealth shifted from the wealthiest to the middle class.For example, between 1700 1719 5. 8% of the wealthiest males owned 61. 5% of the wealth. From 1720 1750, 2. 7% of the wealthiest males owned 33. 2% of the wealth while 26% of the male population owned 31. 3% of the wealth. 11 This shows an important shift in wealth within the colony. So me may read this evidence and disagree with the factors that contributed to their attainment and decide not to give full credit because of these inconsistencies. The Chesapeake colonies established a formula long before the mid-1700s to promote and stomach their future growth.Although the statistical evidence changes for some of the factors, it is clear that the Chesapeake and Barbadian colonies progressed as a society as a result of slavery, land ownership, and agricultural exports. The focus should not only be on the evidence, but the overall impact these factors had on the colonies ability to evolve and the impact their prosperity has on our economic situation today. Notes Population Growth, Virginia, 1640-1770, p 67 2 Population Growth, Maryland, 1640 1770, p 68 3 Population Estimates, Barbados, 1655 1770, p 73 Plantation Size in Virginia by Number of Slaves, 1700 1779, p 71 5 wealthiness dispersal, Wealthy Planters, 1673 and 1680, p 74 6 Wealth Distribution, Jamaica, 167 4 1701 (percentages), p 74 7 Wealth Distribution in Middlesex County, Virginia Personal blank space of dead person Adult Males, 1699 1750, p 68 8 Tobacco Imported by England from Virginia and Maryland (in thousands of pounds) and Maryland Tobacco Prices (in pence sterling/pound), 1620 1770, p 69 9 Estimated Sugar Exports from Barbados to London, 1651 1706 (tons), p 75 10 Value of Exports to and Imports from England by Virginia and Maryland, 1700 1770 (in pounds sterling), p 72 11 Wealth Distribution in Middlesex County, Virginia Personal Property of Deceased Adult Males, 1699 1750, p 68 Works Cited Wheeler, William Bruce, Susan D. Becker, Lorri Glover, and John Hart. Discovering the American Past. Kentucky Cengage Learning, 2012. publish