by Emily Ross
Welcome back, everyone!
Today, we're zeroing in on the American Revolution with a laser focus on Virginia this season. Ready to unravel some history? Let’s get started!
Ok. Now the goods.
Jump into the story of the first tyrannical Governor of Virginia and his path towards being kicked out of office by the colonists.
Contents
From Company to Crown
Last week, we left off with King James taking control of Virginia from the Virginia Company, making it a royal colony. This meant the colonists were now under the king's direct rule instead of a corporation. The colonists in Virginia had simple desires: they wanted to be safe, well-fed, and free to make money from their hard work while keeping their English rights intact. Rights that, mind you, the English king had promised they’d keep as though they were still in England.
James, however, had long yearned to control the colony directly. The early days’ starvation, sickness, and the massacre of 1622 were convenient excuses for him to legally wrest control from the Virginia Company.
Royal Control and Colonial Response
King James now had say in the daily affairs of the colony. More importantly, he would get all of that sweet, sweet money that was previously being funneled to the Virginia Company. The king wasn't stupid; he knew money talks. So, when Virginia became a royal colony in 1624, he sent a group of men to ensure colonial loyalty. These men weren’t just there to oversee; they were there to make the Virginia Company look bad.
The Assembly Betrayed by One of Their Own
But the Virginia Assembly had a different take. They wrote letters to the king praising the company and debunking the king's group's claims. The colonists feared the group's ulterior motives and sent private letters to the king directly, sidestepping the king’s men. However, betrayal within the Assembly led to severe punishment for one member, an act described as bloody and barbarous by the king’s men.
James responded with fury, creating a larger group to run the colony from Virginia, bypassing any existing government structures. His disdain for democracy was well-known, believing his power came from God and the government was meant to serve beneath him.
A Change of Rule
James's reign was short-lived, dying just three years later. Charles I took the throne, continuing his father’s policies but with less intensity. He removed the king's group in Virginia, favoring a smaller council in England to oversee the colony. Charles even sought advice from Edwin Sandys, a staunch democracy advocate and enemy of his father's policies, but ultimately rejected it.
Tobacco and Democracy: A Deal
Charles allowed some democratic practices back into Virginia for a price – he wanted all of the colony’s tobacco profits. The colonists refused, defending their English right to representation but Charles, surprisingly, reinstated elections anyway. A familiar face, George Yeardley, known for his democratic leanings, was chosen as governor, and things started looking up for Virginia.
From Democracy to Tyranny: Enter Governor Harvey
Sadly, Yeardley soon passed, and Francis West and John Potts briefly held the governorship until John Harvey took over. Harvey proved to be a tyrant, making it clear he alone ruled the colony. He controlled the courts and enforced his will without mercy.
The colonists did not take this lying down. They obstructed Harvey's rule, leveraging their rights as Englishmen. Their persistence would eventually lead to open hostility and rebellion.
That’s a wrap for today, folks! Next week’s episode will delve into just how far Governor Harvey pushed his tyrannical rule and the resulting mutiny.
See you next time on "Why Wars Happened."
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