Virginia


 * __Virginia:__****



Virginia was the first settled of the southern colonies, and is located below Maryland on the east coast of North America. This land had very fertile soil which allowed big plantations and some industries to form. This state is known to be divided into five geographical regions which include the Atlantic Coastal Plain, the Piedmont, the Blue Ridge, the Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region, and the Appalachian Plateau. The Atlantic Coastal Plain is an area of lowlands that is filled with salt marshes and swamps. It is called the Tidewater because of the flow of water up and down the coastal bays as the tide moves in and out. Piedmont is located west of the Atlantic Coastal Plain and is Virginia’s largest land region. It is filled with rivers that flow southeastern and sloping upward from elevations of 200 to 300 feet above sea level. Then west of Piedmont is Blue Ridge, which is the eastern mountain range of the Appalachian Mountains. The Blue Ridge then expands south of Roanoke into a plateau with valleys, deep ravines, and the highest peaks in Virginia. The Blue Ridge Mountains Region consists of a long narrow series of densely forested mountains, and part of the Appalachian Mountain system. The Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region is a series of valleys divided by mountains, and the region is riddled with caverns carved into the abundant limestone. In the far southwestern portion of Virginia is the Appalachian Plateau, which is covered with rivers, streams, and forests that averages about 2,000 feet above sea level.
 * Geography**

America’s history is closely related to Virginia’s settlement during the colonial period. Jamestown was founded in 1607 and is known as the fist permanent English settlement in North America. John Smith was an explorer sent from King James I who founded Jamestown, and was given a charter or a certificate of permission from the king. When the English settlers build the James For, it was supposed to be a secure place to live, but instead it quickly became miserable. Within six months the settlement almost failed because most of them did not expect that they would be required to put in all of this hard work, and wished to make large profits easily. John Smith emerged as a strong leader, but had to return to England due to an injury. Almost half of the people were dying from starvations and malaria, and the only reason for their survival was because they received help from the Native Americans. They were given water and food, and assisted them through their difficult period of known as the Starving Time. As the colony was struggling, the Virginia Company tried to improve its governing system, and appoint a new governor who lived in the colony. However, this charter was taken away from the king and Virginia became a royal colony. They also had a legislature of representative, which was called the House of Burgesses, and an example of a limited self-government. After the English arrived in Virginia the Native Americans attacked Jamestown, but were forced to retreat when the English fired a cannon. Weeks after the attack, the English attempted to make peace with the Indians, but Opechancanough was already planning his next attack. Although he did kill about 350 colonists, each of his attacks ended up failing and he was killed in 1644 in the street of Jamestown. More interaction with the Indians was seen when John Rolfe settled in America. He began to plant a variety of tobacco and profited from this popular cash crop. He married [|Pocahontas], daughter of the local [|Native American] leader [|Powhatan] , who assisted settlers at Jamestown. John’s ideal crop increased the amount of goods sold to England, and established the colony as a commercial enterprise. Settlers began to come to Virginia in search fro gold and silver, and take advantage of the abundant resources. People also profited from the cash crop tobacco, and were able to trade because they had easy access to ports along the coast. The English also wanted to outpost or colonize against the Spanish settlements in America. **Economics** The main cash crop for Virginia and other southern colonies was tobacco. It was the basis of the colony’s economy for they were able to trade eagerly with England. Many plantations began to form near waterways, and farmers were prospering on their fertile land. In order to cultivate this fields, however, labors were need to do hard work. Colonists were persuading people to come to Virginia by promising them land when they arrived. This system became known as the headright system, where fifty acres of land were given to a person. There were also some changes in England that influenced many to immigrate to the Americas. An enclosure act was established, which forced farmers off the land and enclosed the fields with fences. Landowners found it cheaper to raise livestock rather then renting land to farmers. Many of these farmers came to America as indentured servants, which were people who had to work for a master for a period of time under a contract called an indenture. In return they were paid for their voyage, food, and shelter. Slaves also began to be present in Virginia, but differed from those of African Americans in South Carolina and Georgia in many ways. In Virginia they were the minority, rather than the majority. Few slaves actually came directly from Africa, but from the Caribbean islands. They performed different work on the fields by cultivating tobacco and major crops compared to southern slaves. They did not have to grow rice, which was a very strenuous and difficult task. African Americans also had a more regular contact with European Americans, and more integration of culture could be seen. They also encouraged the slaves to produce families, so that there was no need to buy more expensive slaves.
 * History**

France and Britain were international rivals seeking wealth and power. This competition extended to their colonies in North America, and allowed two countries to fight each other overseas without formally declaring war. This was risking the invasion of the homelands in Europe. In 1754 the Virginia colony sent reinforcements to a fort that colonist were building in Ohio, in order to stop the French from taking it. They did not succeed with this, and France ended up capturing the fort. George Washington assumed leadership of their military force and led it into a misfortune. He led an attack on a group of Frenchmen in late May, 1754 and essentially killed a French leader. This was seen as a declaration of war, which seemed to be inevitable due to the dispute of territories in America. The Virginia colony was land hungry and launched the Ohio Company in 1748. Colonists were willing to fight the Native Americans and the French in order to obtain this land, and took this opportunity when the Quakers led an assembly into Pennsylvania. They lacked the willingness to fight for the land, which led the Virginians to want to gain control over the Ohio territory. Lord Braddock arrived in 1755 to lead the British to capture the Fort Duquesne, and created a system where farmers would bring crops and other supplies to him. When he tried to cut a road through the woods, he was killed and the British were forced to move in Philadelphia, which is known as winter quarters in mid summer of 1755. They were determined to attack the Fort again, and built a road through Pennsylvania. The Virginians investment in fight the French and Indians only enhanced Pennsylvania’s economic link to the Fort. Virginians dropped their claims to the land in southwestern Virginia, and did not actually benefit from fighting in the war. When the idea of a revolution began to emerge Virginia was willing to fight for their independence. This colony had some of the most effective revolutionary writers and orators, which include Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry. However, the general public was not radical compared to the people of Massachusetts. Most people were patriots in this colony and it could be said that the revolution started in Virginia, for they were the first to propose on June 7, 1776 that the Continental Congress declare independence from Great Britain. Before this under the policy of salutary neglect Virginia was able to flourish with its own government and created the House of Burgesses and formed a representative Democracy. People like Patrick Henry advocated colonial rebellion against the Britain and practice law in order to govern. He inspired many people and is famously known for the quote “Give me liberty or give me death.” With the help of American revolutionist and the patriots Virginia was able to assist in America’s independence from Great Britain. The original inhibitors of Virginia were an Algonquin speaking group called the Powhatan Confederacy. The first settlers were English and founded the colony of Jamestown along the James River in the Tidewater. This was the area inhabited by the Powhatan Confederacy. In the 18th century, the settlement of the piedmont region of the Appalachian foothills caused an influx of people including Germans, Scotch-Irish and Welsh. There were a few religions practice in Virginia. The original settlers were supporters of the monarchy and the Anglican Church. In 1652 puritans brought Virginia under their rule and in 1660 rule was restored. Finally with the influx of people in the 18th century came English Quakers. The original settlers of the colony of Virginia were only men. It was believed that women did not belong in such a place with often grisly business of subduing a continent. At the beginning, women were not needed, however when the colony began to grown, women were needed to provide stabilization. Women were sent to the new world to provide structure, to plant roots, and to continue generations in this new land. Virginia has claim to being the first permanent English settlement in the new world. The London Company claimed all of Virginia, and a great deal more than the land that is now Virginia. The London Company was a joint-stock venture sponsored by King James the first. In 1624 however, James the first revoked the London Company’s charter and Virginia became a royal colony. A royal charter allowed the colony to be founded, granting them the right to coin money, raise revenue, and to make laws, but reserving much power to the king. With the inspiring words of John Smith, the colony weathered times of starvation, attacks by Indians, and the deaths of many people, but I somehow survived, and when it did they established their own form of representative government. 1. ** Triangle Tra **** de ** - In history, trade between the New World, Europe, and Africa. a business arrangement involving a buyer, seller, and a third-party supplier made to create lower production cost and lower or free import tariff and to become competitive in exporting. 2. ** Salutary Neglect ** -an undocumented, though long-standing, [|British] policy of avoiding strict enforcement of parliamentary laws meant to keep the [|American colonies] obedient to [|Great Britain]. 3. ** Mercantilism ** -an [|economic theory] that the prosperity of a nation depends upon its [|capital], and that the volume of the [|world economy] and [|international trade] is unchangeable. 4. ** Great Awakening ** -refer to several periods of dramatic [|religious revival] in Anglo-American religious history generally recognized as beginning in the 1730s. They have also been described as periodic revolutions in [|U.S.] religious thought. 5. ** Cash Crops ** -crop, which is grown for [|money]. The term is used to differentiate from [|subsistence crops], which are those fed to the producer's own livestock or grown as food for the producer's family There were many leaders of the Revolution that came from Virginia. They include, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Patrick Henry. Thomas Jefferson was one of the intellectual leaders of the Revolution and the author of the Declaration o Independence. George Washington was commander in chief of the Continental. He later became the first president of the United States, after the Revolution. Patrick Henry was a brilliant orator and a key proponent of independence. Virginia was a great supporter of the rebellion. It was the first colony to begin the move for independence. The first activity in Virginia was in 1776 when the British burned Norfolk, however the first major British invasion was in 1779 when they took Portsmouth and Suffolk. However, in 1781 the Americans forced the surrender of British general Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, ending the war. This was with the help of the French Navy. Virginia was so influential in the colonizing of the Americas that Virginia’s occupied the U.S. Presidency for all but four of the next 28 years. The state of Virginia supported the constitution, many Virginians actually helped write it. Works Cited 1.) //The Capital Cities of Virginia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2010. . 2.) “Colonial America.” //Virginia and the Colonial Revolution//. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. . 3.) //The French and Indian War//. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2010. . 4.) //HIstory or Virginia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. . 5.) //The Southern Colonies//. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2010. . 6.) Text pages 52-53, 62, and 74 7.) “Virginia.” U*X*L Encyclopedia of U.S. History. Sonia Benson, Daniel E. Branner, Jr., and Rebecca Valentine. ED. Lawrence W. Backer and Sarah Hermsone. Vol. 8. Detroit: UXL, 2009. 1637-1638. Gale //Student Resources in Context.// Web. 29 Sep. 2010 8.)”Virginia.” //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2010.  9.)”Virginia.” //Gale Enclycopedia of U.S. History.// Detroit: Gale, 1999. //Gale Student Resource in Context.// Web. 29. 2010 10.) [] 11.) []
 * French and Indian War**
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