by Emily Ross
Hello, fellow history enthusiasts and welcome to another post by Why Wars Happened!
Today, we're looking at the strict tactics the first governors of Virginia used to help the colony survive. Strap in, folks – this one’s a wild ride!
Ok. Now the goods.
Sit back and get the details on how "the most damned crew hell never vomited" earned their reputation.
Contents
The All-Powerful Governors and the Struggling Colonists
Where we left off in our last episode, Jamestown had just welcomed (or, should I say, endured) a series of all-powerful governors. These governors whipped the colony into shape with military-like laws. Brutal, yes – but their cruelty saved lives. Chaos and disorder had nearly decimated the colonists through starvation and sickness. With the governors' strict rule, the colony began to thrive, and a second colony sprung up on better soil, allowing for more successful farming.
John Rolfe and Pocahontas: A Peaceful Start
One significant event was John Rolfe marrying Pocahontas, leading to a fragile peace with the natives. Colonists began to venture outside the colonies to plant food and tobacco without fear of attack. England, poor and desperate for resources, saw the potential in the New World for sourcing raw materials like iron and gold. This had been a dream – a colony supplying much-needed resources while making England and King James richer.
Iron and the Virginia Company’s Bold Vision
Iron was crucial – needed for everything from weapons to ship parts – but England’s own soil didn’t yield much. In 1609, Virginia shipped 16 tons of iron ore to England. Despite the early promise, the effort stalled until a decade later when a significant supply of iron was discovered near Henrico. But, in an ironic twist, just as iron workers were getting started, they were attacked in the massacre of 1622. The once-promising iron dream ended in tragedy, with only a pair of tongs and a single iron bar returned to the Virginia Company.
The Quest for Glass and More Heartache
Parallel to the iron debacle was another fruitless venture: glassmaking. Even skilled European craftsmen, including Dutch, Polish, and Italians, were brought over to Jamestown. Despite their expertise, disasters plagued the endeavor—windstorms, recurring sickness, and, worst of all, the massacre of 1622. Ultimately, the project failed, and the glassmakers abandoned Virginia, cursing their luck and returning to Europe.
Tobacco: Virginia's Golden Crop
So, tobacco it was. John Rolfe’s sweeter Virginia tobacco caught on quickly. Despite the Spanish competition, the Virginia Company clung to the hope of convincing King James to ban Spanish tobacco in England. Yet, James, fearful of reigniting war with Spain and caring little for the habit he detested, imposed a harsh limit on the amount of Virginia tobacco that could be sold in England.
The King’s Reluctance and the Colonists’ Rebellion
In response, Virginia turned to Holland, selling their tobacco there. The powerful council in England was so outraged, they pressured the king to decree that all Virginia tobacco must pass through England first. The colonists, embodying the indomitable American spirit of “don’t tell me what to do,” ignored this order and continued shipping tobacco to Holland clandestinely.
The King’s Sweet (But Short-Lived) Deal
James eventually compromised, limiting Spain’s sales in England and allowing Virginia free rein over their tobacco market. To protect Virginia’s market further, growing tobacco in England and Ireland was banned. However, the sweet deal soon fell apart, with the Virginia Company dissolving within two years. Virginia was made a royal colony, governed directly by the crown.
The Promise of Democracy
Despite their financial gains, the Virginia Company struggled with its reputation marred by brutal beginnings. To attract more settlers, they made the fateful decision to establish democracy in Virginia – a move that would sow the seeds for future conflicts and the eventual push for American independence.
That's all for today! Thanks for reading.
Join us next week as we explore the establishment of democracy in Virginia and the power struggles it ignited.
See you next time!
Subscribe to our free history newsletter so you never miss an episode!
