Settling the Southern Colonies

Summary

This historical documentary explores the early English colonization of North America, focusing on the failed Roanoke Colony and the successful yet tumultuous establishment of Jamestown. It delves into the challenges faced by settlers, including conflicts with Native Americans, the shift from indentured servitude to African slavery, and the economic boom brought by tobacco farming. The narrative underscores the pivotal role of race and labor in shaping the social and economic foundations of the American South.

Takeaways

• 🚢 The script discusses the early English colonization efforts in America, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by the English in establishing a foothold, in contrast to the Spanish and Portuguese successes.
• 🌳 In 1584, Walter Raleigh initiated a reconnaissance mission to an island off the coast of present-day North Carolina, which later became known as Roanoke Island, due to its abundant flora and fauna.
• 🤝 The English settlers described friendly encounters with the local inhabitants of Roanoke, who were organized at a village level and shared similarities with English agricultural communities.
• 🌪️ The Roanoke colony mysteriously disappeared, leaving only the word 'Croatoan' carved in a tree as a clue, suggesting a potential relocation to a nearby island.
• 🏰 The Jamestown settlement faced numerous hardships, including disease and conflict with the indigenous population, leading to a high mortality rate among the colonists.
• 👨‍🌾 John Smith played a crucial role in the survival of the Jamestown colony by reorganizing it and establishing a relationship with the local Powhatan tribe.
• 🌾 The cultivation of tobacco in Virginia became a turning point for the colony's economy, providing a profitable cash crop that drove the expansion of settlements.
• 🔗 The success of tobacco farming led to increased tensions with the indigenous people over land, culminating in the 1622 Indian attack aimed at slowing the English encroachment.
• 🔄 The labor system in the Chesapeake region shifted from indentured servitude to African slavery as the demand for labor increased, reflecting a broader societal and economic change.
• ⏳ The script also touches on the rise of the sugar industry in the Caribbean and its influence on the development of slavery, which had profound effects on the sociopolitical climate of the colonies.

Q & A

What was the initial reaction of the English to the colonization of America after the Spanish and Portuguese had already established their presence?

The English initially marveled at their inability to establish a strong presence in America despite the fertile lands, even after the Spanish and Portuguese had already made significant conquests and settlements.

Who was Walter Raleigh and what was his contribution to the English colonization of America?

Walter Raleigh was a brash, ambitious adventurer who, in 1584, embraced the challenge of English colonization in America by launching a reconnaissance mission to an island off the coast of present-day North Carolina, which his men later named 'Roanoke'.

What was significant about the island named 'Roanoke' in the context of English colonization?

Roanoke was significant because it was where the English settlers found abundant flora and fauna, and had friendly encounters with the local inhabitants, which encouraged further English exploration and attempts at colonization.

How did the English settlers' interaction with the local inhabitants of Roanoke influence their views on the potential for colonization?

The English settlers recognized that the local inhabitants lived in villages much like English villages, were agriculturalists, and had a civil and settled life, which encouraged the idea that the New World was suitable for English colonization and could support a similar lifestyle.

What challenges did the English colonists face during their initial settlement attempts on Roanoke Island?

The English colonists faced numerous hardships, including the delay of supplies due to England being locked in combat with Spain, and the disappearance of the colonists when John White returned after a prolonged absence, leaving only the word 'Croatoan' as a clue to their fate.

What was the role of John Smith in the Jamestown colony and how did he contribute to its survival?

John Smith played a crucial role in the survival of the Jamestown colony by reorganizing it and enforcing a system where everyone was forced to work. He also established a relationship with the Powhatan chief, which was vital for the colony's sustenance.

How did the cultivation of tobacco impact the growth and economy of the Virginia colony?

The cultivation of tobacco by John Rolfe in 1612 provided a marketable crop that the colonists could produce, which in turn generated profit. This profit enabled plantation owners to support more labor, leading to more tobacco production and economic growth.

What was the 'Starving Time' in the history of Jamestown, and what were its effects on the colony?

The 'Starving Time' was a period of severe famine during the winter of 1609-1610, where only 60 of the original 500 settlers survived. This period highlighted the colony's vulnerability and led to extreme measures for survival, including cannibalism.

How did the labor system in the Chesapeake region evolve from primarily white indentured servitude to African slavery?

The labor system shifted due to a combination of factors, including the increasing need for labor in tobacco and sugar production, the desire to maintain social divisions along racial lines, and the fear of class alliances across racial divides, as evidenced by Bacon's Rebellion.

What was the impact of the sugar industry on the development of the slave labor system in the Caribbean and British North America?

The sugar industry was labor-intensive and required immediate processing of the cane once it was ripe. This demand, along with the success of the Caribbean sugar plantations, propelled the use of slave labor, which in turn influenced the institution of slavery in colonies like Carolina from their inception.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Early English Settlements and the Mystery of Roanoke

The video segment discusses the early English attempts at colonization in America, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by English settlers in establishing a foothold in the New World. It highlights the 1584 expedition led by Walter Raleigh to Roanoke Island, which resulted in the return of Englishmen with reports of the island's abundant resources and friendly interactions with the local inhabitants. The segment also touches on the agricultural lifestyle of the Native Americans, their seasonal movements, and the English fascination with their village-like settlements. The narrative takes a mysterious turn with the disappearance of the Roanoke colonists, leaving behind only the clue 'Croatoan' carved into a tree, suggesting a potential relocation to a nearby island. The summary ends with speculation about the colonists possibly surviving and integrating with the indigenous population, influencing the later English settlements.

05:00

🚢 The Struggles and Transformation of Jamestown

This segment delves into the hardships and eventual transformation of the Jamestown settlement. Initially, the settlers were more focused on finding gold than on establishing a sustainable colony, leading to a disastrous first winter with half of the colonists perishing. The leadership of John Smith, who emphasized the importance of work and diplomacy with the native Powhatan tribe, played a crucial role in the colony's survival. However, despite the establishment of a relationship with the Powhatan, conflicts continued, and the settlers' aggression towards the native population persisted. The narrative describes the 'Starving Time' of 1609, where the settlers resorted to cannibalism to survive. Post this, the Virginia Company restructured the colony's approach, tying land ownership to labor, which led to the cultivation of tobacco as a profitable crop. This shift marked the beginning of a more stable and economically viable colony.

10:01

🌱 The Rise of Tobacco and its Impact on Society and Labor

The video script explores the rise of tobacco as a cash crop in the Chesapeake region and its profound impact on the economy and society. It details how tobacco cultivation led to the rapid expansion of settlements and the increasing demand for labor. The segment discusses the life of Anthony Johnson, one of the first Africans in North America, who experienced the transition from indentured servitude to slavery. It also touches on the environmental impact of tobacco farming, which depleted soil nutrients, and the economic divide it created between the wealthy planters and the poor. The narrative continues with the Bacon's Rebellion, which highlighted the tension between the frontier farmers and the established planter class, and the strategic use of race as a means to maintain social order and suppress potential alliances between white and black laborers.

15:02

🌍 The Expansion of Sugar Plantations and the Caribbean Influence

This segment discusses the colonization of Barbados and the subsequent development of sugar plantations, which had a significant labor demand driving the expansion of the slave trade. The founding of Carolina and its early institution of slavery are linked to the Caribbean's influence. The narrative follows the story of John and Affra Coming, who migrated from Barbados to South Carolina and became significant land and slave owners. Their story illustrates the early practices of land acquisition and the establishment of plantations that relied heavily on slave labor. The segment also touches on the sociopolitical climate shaped by the Caribbean's model of sugar production and the lasting impact on the region's economy and society.

20:06

🏴‍☠️ Shifts in Labor and the Emergence of Racial Hierarchy

The final segment examines the transition from white indentured servitude to African slavery in the Chesapeake region and the intentional use of race as a dividing line to maintain social order. It discusses the political and social changes following Bacon's Rebellion, which led to more clearly defined racial divisions. The segment also highlights the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few land and slave owners, and how the principles of private property extended to the ownership of labor, setting the stage for a rigid racial hierarchy in the South. The narrative concludes with reflections on the early English settlements and the evolution of a mixed tradition that valued land and labor ownership, which had lasting implications for the development of the American South.

Keywords

💡Roanoke

Roanoke refers to the first English colony in America, located off the coast of present-day North Carolina. In the video, it symbolizes early English exploration and colonization efforts in the New World. The mystery of the 'Lost Colony' of Roanoke, which disappeared leaving only the word 'CROATOAN' as a clue, is discussed as an early colonial failure.

💡Jamestown

Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America, founded in 1607 in Virginia. The video describes its initial struggles with leadership, food shortages, and relations with Native Americans, as well as its eventual success due to tobacco cultivation. Jamestown represents the resilience and transformation of early English colonies.

💡Tobacco

Tobacco was a cash crop that played a critical role in the survival and economic success of the Virginia colony. John Rolfe’s cultivation of a profitable tobacco variety in 1612 provided the colony with a stable source of income. The video explores how tobacco became central to the economy of both Virginia and Maryland, transforming the colonies’ labor systems.

💡Indentured Servitude

Indentured servitude was a labor system in which individuals worked for a certain period in exchange for passage to America and the promise of land. The video highlights how this system played a key role in the early Chesapeake colonies, but over time, it was replaced by African slavery. Indentured servants were often treated poorly, leading to social tensions.

💡Powhatan

Powhatan was the leader of the Native American confederacy in the area surrounding Jamestown. In the video, his complex relationship with the English colonists is explored, including his initial aid and later conflicts. Powhatan's tribe was crucial to the early survival of the colony, but tensions escalated as settlers expanded and took more land.

💡Bacon's Rebellion

Bacon's Rebellion was a 1676 uprising in Virginia led by Nathaniel Bacon, reflecting tensions between frontier settlers and the colonial elite. The video describes how it highlighted class divisions and fears of an alliance between poor whites and blacks, prompting a shift toward racialized slavery. The rebellion marked a turning point in the social and political dynamics of the colony.

💡Slavery

Slavery became the dominant labor system in the American colonies, especially after the decline of indentured servitude. The video traces the early presence of African slaves in Virginia and how economic dependence on crops like tobacco led to the institutionalization of slavery. The racial divisions between white and black laborers became more pronounced after events like Bacon's Rebellion.

💡Virginia Company

The Virginia Company was a joint-stock company that established Jamestown in 1607. In the video, the company is shown as crucial to England’s early colonization efforts, offering land incentives to settlers and controlling the colony’s economy. Its reorganization after Jamestown’s initial failures helped secure the colony's future success through tobacco farming.

💡Croatoan

Croatoan was the word carved into a tree, the only clue left by the vanished Roanoke colony. The video uses this word to illustrate the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the settlers and the challenges of early English colonization efforts. The settlers were never found, but some theories suggest they integrated with local Native American tribes.

💡Anthony Johnson

Anthony Johnson was one of the first Africans in Virginia, initially brought as an indentured servant. He later gained his freedom and became a landowner, representing the complex status of early Africans in the colonies. The video highlights how his story reflects the shift from a society with indentured servitude to one dominated by racialized slavery.

Highlights

The English, despite the Spanish and Portuguese conquests in America, had not been able to establish a strong presence in the fertile and temperate regions.

Walter Raleigh launched a reconnaissance mission to an island off the coast of present-day North Carolina, which his men named 'Roanoke'.

The Roanoke Island was found to have abundant flora and fauna, and the English described friendly encounters with the local inhabitants.

The indigenous people of North Carolina were organized at a village level, were agriculturalists, and lived in a manner similar to English villages.

John White, the leader of the Roanoke expedition, had to return to England for more provisions, leaving the colony for an extended period.

Upon White's return to Roanoke in 1590, the colonists were gone, leaving only the word 'Croatoan' carved in a tree as a clue.

The colonists had left in an orderly fashion, dismantling their houses and burying what they couldn't take with them.

The English colonists at Jamestown may have encountered Roanoke colonists without recognizing them, as they likely assimilated with the Indian population.

The Virginia Company was granted a charter to establish an English settlement in the Chesapeake region, leading to the founding of Jamestown.

The early colonists at Jamestown were more interested in finding gold than in agriculture, leading to a harsh first winter.

John Smith played a crucial role in the survival of the Jamestown colony by reorganizing it and establishing a relationship with the Powhatan chiefdom.

The colonists' aggression towards the indigenous people continued despite their reliance on the Indians for food supplies.

The 'Starving Time' of 1609 saw only 60 of the original 500 settlers survive the winter due to extreme food shortages.

The Virginia Company reorganized the colonial enterprise by offering land to anyone who would come and serve a term of labor.

The cultivation of a marketable variety of tobacco by John Rolfe in 1612 provided a profitable crop for the colonists and a reason to work the land.

The success of tobacco cultivation led to a rapid expansion of settlements along the James River, displacing the indigenous people.

The Great Indian Attack of 1622 was a response to the tobacco boom and the English settlers' encroachment on native lands.

Tobacco became a major cash crop in the Chesapeake, with production increasing dramatically over the 17th century.

The labor needs for tobacco cultivation led to an increase in the importation of African slaves, shifting the labor system towards slavery.

The story of Anthony Johnson, an early African servant in Virginia, illustrates the gradual shift from indentured servitude to racial slavery.

The Caribbean's influence on the southern colonies was profound, with the institution of slavery and the cultivation of sugarcane shaping the sociopolitical climate.

The Coming family's plantation in South Carolina exemplifies the growth of slave-based agriculture and the accumulation of wealth by a colonial elite.

The 17th century saw a shift in dominance in the Chesapeake region from Native Americans to English colonists, with a growing diversity due to the arrival of Africans.

The institution of slavery in the southern colonies was marked by a rigid racial hierarchy and an early concentration of wealth and power among a small elite.

Transcripts

(♪ Music Playing ♪)

(♪ Music Playing ♪)

(Actor) Richard Hakluyt: I MARVEL NOT A LITTLE

THAT SINCE THE FIRST DISCOVERY OF AMERICA...

AFTER SO GREAT A CONQUEST

AND PLANTING BY THE SPANIARDS AND THE PORTINGALES THERE,

THAT WE OF ENGLAND COULD NEVER HAVE THE GRACE

TO SET FAST FOOTING IN SUCH FERTILE AND TEMPERATE PLACES.

Narrator: IN 1584 WALTER RALEIGH, A BRASH, AMBITIOUS ADVENTURER,

EMBRACED THIS CHALLENGE

AND LAUNCHED A RECONNAISSANCE MISSION

TO AN ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF PRESENT-DAY NORTH CAROLINA.

TWO MONTHS LATER, HIS MEN RETURNED TO ENGLAND

WITH A DETAILED REPORT OF THE ABUNDANT FLORA AND FAUNA

ON THE ISLAND THEY NAMED "ROANOKE."

THEY ALSO DESCRIBED FRIENDLY ENCOUNTERS

WITH THE LOCAL INHABITANTS.

Karen Kupperman: THE INDIANS WHO LIVED ON THE OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA

AND THE ADJACENT SHORE

WERE PROBABLY ORGANIZED AT A VILLAGE LEVEL.

THEY DID SOME MOVING SEASONALLY,

FOR HUNTING AND SHELLFISH GATHERING

AND THAT KIND OF THING,

BUT THEY WERE AGRICULTURALISTS.

AND WHEN THE ENGLISH CAME TO ROANOKE,

THEY VERY CLEARLY RECOGNIZED

THAT THESE PEOPLE LIVED IN VILLAGES

VERY MUCH LIKE ENGLISH VILLAGES,

THAT THEY WERE AGRICULTURALISTS

AS THE ENGLISH WERE AGRICULTURALISTS.

AND, IN FACT, JOHN WHITE, THE PAINTER,

WHO WAS THERE BOTH IN 1585 AND IN 1587,

PAINTED PICTURES OF INDIAN VILLAGES

WITH THE PURPOSE, ACTUALLY,

OF DEMONSTRATING THAT THESE PEOPLE LIVED A LIFE

THAT WAS RECOGNIZABLY CIVIL AND SETTLED.

Narrator: ENCOURAGED BY DESCRIPTIONS OF LIFE ON ROANOKE,

RALEIGH SOUGHT INVESTORS AND RECRUITED COLONISTS

TO DEVELOP COMMERCIAL FARMING OPERATIONS IN THE NEW WORLD.

AFTER CONFRONTING AN ARRAY OF HARDSHIPS,

JOHN WHITE, THE LEADER OF THE EXPEDITION,

RETURNED TO ENGLAND TO PROCURE MORE PROVISIONS.

BUT ENGLAND WAS LOCKED IN MORTAL COMBAT WITH SPAIN,

AND NOT UNTIL AFTER THE DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA

WERE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO BOLSTER THE COLONIAL VENTURE.

WHITE'S RETURN TO ROANOKE WAS DELAYED UNTIL 1590.

Karen Kupperman: THE OUTER BANKS IS A VERY TREACHEROUS PLACE,

SO THEY ANCHORED SOME DISTANCE AWAY.

THEY SAW THE SMOKE FROM FIRES

AND THOUGHT THAT THE COLONISTS WERE STILL THERE...

(Actor) John White: WE SOUNDED WITH A TRUMPET AND CALL,

AND AFTERWARDS MANY FAMILIAR ENGLISH TUNES AND SONGS,

AND CALLED TO THEM FRIENDLY, BUT WE HAD NO ANSWER.

Karen Kupperman: THE NEXT DAY WHEN THEY WENT TO THE ISLAND,

THEY FOUND THAT IT WAS IN FACT A WILDFIRE

AND THAT THE COLONISTS WERE GONE.

BUT THEY ALSO FOUND THAT THE COLONISTS HAD LEFT

IN AN ORDERLY FASHION.

THEY HAD DISMANTLED THEIR HOUSES AND TAKEN THEM WITH THEM.

THEY HAD BURIED WHAT THEY COULDN'T TAKE.

Narrator: THE COLONISTS HAD LEFT ONLY ONE CLUE ABOUT THEIR FATE:

THE WORD "CROATOAN,"

THE NAME OF A NEARBY ISLAND, CARVED IN A TREE.

Karen Kupperman: A STORM WAS COMING UP,

ONE OF THESE GREAT COASTAL HURRICANES.

THE SHIP CAPTAIN SIMPLY SAID, "WE CAN'T STAY HERE".

AND SO THEY NEVER WENT TO CROATOAN

TO SEE WHETHER THE COLONISTS WERE THERE.

AND I THINK IT'S HIGHLY POSSIBLE

THAT SOME OF THEM WERE STILL ALIVE

WHEN JAMESTOWN WAS SETTLED 20 YEARS LATER.

THE ENGLISH COLONISTS AT JAMESTOWN

MAY HAVE LOOKED A ROANOKE COLONIST IN THE FACE

AND NOT RECOGNIZED HIM OR HER,

BECAUSE I THINK THEY VERY LIKELY

MELDED IN WITH THE INDIAN POPULATION

SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN INDIANS BY 1607.

(♪ Music Playing ♪)

Narrator: NEARLY 30 YEARS AFTER THE DISAPPEARANCE

OF THE COLONY AT ROANOKE,

KING JAMES I

GRANTED THE VIRGINIA COMPANY A CHARTER TO MAKE ANOTHER GO

AT ESTABLISHING AN ENGLISH SATELLITE

IN THE CHESAPEAKE REGION.

ON MAY 13, 1607,

THE COLONISTS SETTLED ON A SMALL PENINSULA IN THE JAMES RIVER,

ABOUT 60 MILES FROM THE MOUTH OF CHESAPEAKE BAY.

(Actor) Robert Beverley: THE CHIEF DESIGN OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED

WAS TO FETCH AWAY THE TREASURE FROM THENCE,

AIMING MORE AT SUDDEN GAIN, THAN TO FORM ANY REGULAR COLONY.

Narrator: THE ADVENTURERS WHO CAME TO VIRGINIA

WERE MORE INTERESTED IN PANNING FOR GOLD THAN PLANTING CROPS.

WHEN WINTER ARRIVED,

NO LAND HAD BEEN CLEARED, NO HOUSES BUILT,

AND THE FORT STOOD UPON A MALARIA-INFESTED SWAMP.

HALF OF THE ORIGINAL COLONISTS PERISHED

BEFORE THE END OF THAT FIRST YEAR.

THE RELATIVELY OBSCURE JOHN SMITH

THEN STEPPED IN TO FILL THE LEADERSHIP VOID.

Karen Kupperman: HE ARGUED THAT HE WAS CRUCIAL TO THE SALVATION OF THE COLONY

AND I'M NOT SURE HE'S COMPLETELY WRONG ON THAT.

HE DESCRIBES HOW HE REORGANIZED THE COLONY

IN THAT EVERYONE WAS FORCED TO WORK.

HE ARGUED THAT THE RELATIONSHIP THAT HE ESTABLISHED WITH,

AS HE CALLED HIM, "THE GREAT EMPEROR POWHATAN,"

WAS OF CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE,

AND I THINK HE MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONLY PERSON IN THE COLONY

WHO COULD HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT RELATIONSHIP.

POWHATAN SAW THE COMING OF THE JAMESTOWN COLONISTS,

PARTICULARLY SINCE THEY SEEMED SO DISORGANIZED

AND LARGELY INCAPABLE,

AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN TRADE GOODS,

ESPECIALLY WEAPONS AND TOOLS.

AND HE ANTICIPATED, I THINK,

THAT JAMESTOWN WOULD REMAIN A SMALL MILITARY OUTPOST,

EASILY CONTROLLABLE BY HIM

BECAUSE THE COLONISTS WERE TOTALLY RELIANT

ON INDIAN SUPPLIES OF FOOD.

Narrator: BUT EVEN AFTER THE ALGONQUINS

HAD COME TO THE AID OF THE ENGLISH,

THE COLONISTS DID NOT CEASE COMMITTING ACTS OF AGGRESSION

AGAINST THE INDIAN PEOPLE.

(Actor) Powhatan: CAPTAIN SMITH, YOU ARE COME TO DESTROY MY COUNTRY,

AND SO MUCH AFFRIGHTETH ALL MY PEOPLE

AS THEY DARE NOT VISIT YOU.

WHAT WILL IT AVAIL YOU

TO TAKE THAT BY FORCE YOU MAY QUICKLY HAVE BY LOVE,

OR TO DESTROY THEM THAT PROVIDE YOU WITH FOOD?

Narrator: THE NEXT WINTER,

JAMESTOWN CAME CLOSE TO GOING THE WAY OF ROANOKE.

ONLY 60 OF THE ORIGINAL 500 SETTLERS

SURVIVED THE WINTER OF 1609,

LATER CALLED "THE STARVING TIME."

(Actor) George Percy: HUNGER DROVE MEN TO DIG UP CORPSES FROM THEIR GRAVES

AND TO EAT THEM.

OTHERS LICKED UP THE BLOOD

THAT HAD FALLEN FROM THEIR WEAKER FELLOWS.

ONE MAN, HE KILLED HIS WIFE, SALTED HER,

AND HAD EATEN HER BEFORE IT WAS KNOWN.

WHETHER SHE WAS BETTER ROASTED OR BOILED, I KNOW NOT.

BUT SUCH A DISH AS "SALTED WIFE" I NEVER HEARD OF.

Narrator: AFTER THE FIRST DISASTROUS DECADE,

THE VIRGINIA COMPANY MOVED TO REORGANIZE

THE WHOLE COLONIAL ENTERPRISE.

Karen Kupperman: AND WHAT THEY DO AT THAT POINT IS DIVIDE UP THE LAND

AND THEY OFFER LAND TO ANYBODY WHO WILL COME,

50 ACRES, AFTER YOU'VE SERVED YOUR TERM OF SERVITUDE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING

THAT YOU WOULD NEVER, EVER HAVE ACHIEVED IN ENGLAND.

AND EVERYBODY WHO IMPORTS SOMEONE,

EVERYBODY WHO PAYS SOMEONE'S PASSAGE,

GETS 50 ACRES.

AND SO THE GENIUS OF THIS SCHEME,

IF I MAY PUT IT THAT WAY,

IS THAT THEY TIE OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND,

EITHER AS AN INVESTOR OR AS A COLONIST,

TO ACTUALLY PUTTING LABOR ON THAT LAND.

IN OTHER WORDS,

WHAT THEY HAD COME TO REALIZE IS THAT THERE IS NO TREASURE

AND THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY TREASURE

AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE VIRGINIA,

OR AMERICA IN GENERAL,

PAY IN THESE LATITUDES

IS TO PUT LABOR FROM THE OLD WORLD INTO THAT LAND

AND CREATE A PRODUCT.

Narrator: THE HARD TIMES BEGAN TO EASE IN 1612 WHEN JOHN ROLFE,

FUTURE HUSBAND OF POWHATAN'S DAUGHTER, POCAHONTAS,

SUCCESSFULLY CULTIVATED A MARKETABLE VARIETY OF TOBACCO.

SUDDENLY, THE COLONISTS NOW FOUND THE WILL TO PLOW THE SOIL.

AND THE MORE TOBACCO THE COLONISTS PRODUCED,

THE MORE PROFIT THEY GARNERED;

PROFIT THEN ENABLED PLANTATION OWNERS

TO SUPPORT MORE LABOR,

WHICH, IN TURN, ENABLED MORE TOBACCO PRODUCTION.

Karen Kupperman: THEY SPREAD OVER THE LAND WITH A RAPIDITY THAT NO ONE,

CERTAINLY NOT POWHATAN, COULD HAVE IMAGINED.

AND BY 1622 BOTH SIDES OF THE JAMES RIVER FOR 70 MILES,

UP TO THE SITE OF PRESENT-DAY RICHMOND,

ARE SETTLED WITH PLANTATIONS.

BECAUSE IN VIRGINIA, IT'S NOT JUST SHEER LAND,

IT'S THAT LAND ALONG THE RIVERS THAT REALLY MATTERS

BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE COMMUNICATIONS ARTERIES.

THOSE ARE THE WAY YOU GET YOUR CROPS TO MARKET.

CONTROL OF THE LAND ALONG THE RIVER

IS WHAT IS CRUCIAL FOR BOTH INDIANS AND ENGLISH

AND THE ENGLISH ARE PUSHING THE INDIANS OFF THAT LAND.

POWHATAN DIDN'T LIVE TO SEE THIS.

HE DIED IN 1618.

SO IN 1622 IT'S HIS SUCCESSOR, OPIKANKANO,

WHO COORDINATED THIS GREAT INDIAN ATTACK

TO TRY TO TURN BACK THIS WAVE OF SETTLEMENT

THAT IS ESSENTIALLY PUSHING THE INDIANS

OFF THE LAND THAT THEY HAD CULTIVATED FOR,

YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY CENTURIES.

AND SO THE GREAT UPRISING IN 1622

IS IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE TOBACCO SUCCESS

AND THE GROWTH OF THE SETTLEMENT.

(♪ Music Playing ♪)

Native American Woman: IN ANCIENT TIMES, WHEN THE LAND GREW BARREN,

THE GREAT SPIRIT SENT FORTH A WOMAN

TO SAVE THE PEOPLE FROM STARVATION.

SHE TRAVELED THE WORLD,

AND WHERE HER RIGHT HAND TOUCHED THE SOIL, POTATOES TOOK ROOT;

WHERE HER LEFT HAND TOUCHED THE SOIL, CORN SPRANG UP.

WHEN THE WORLD WAS ONCE AGAIN RICH AND FERTILE,

SHE SAT DOWN TO REST.

AND WHEN SHE ROSE AGAIN, TOBACCO GREW THEREAFTER.

Narrator: NATIVE AMERICANS USED TOBACCO FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS

BEFORE EUROPEANS ARRIVED

AND TURNED IT INTO A COMMERCIAL CROP.

BY 1620 THE ANNUAL TOBACCO YIELD IN THE CHESAPEAKE

WAS UP TO 60,000 POUNDS;

BY 1640 OVER A MILLION;

AND BY THE END OF THE CENTURY, 35 MILLION POUNDS.

IT BECAME, QUITE LITERALLY, A "CASH CROP."

TOBACCO WAS USED TO HELP FINANCE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR,

SERVING AS COLLATERAL FOR LOANS FROM FRANCE.

AFTER THE CIVIL WAR,

CIGARETTES BECAME MORE PREVALENT,

SURPASSING CIGARS AND CHEWING TOBACCO DURING WORLD WAR I.

DURING WORLD WAR II,

AMERICAN GIs RECEIVED CIGARETTES WITH THEIR DAILY FOOD RATIONS.

BUT TOBACCO HAD ITS DETRACTORS, EVEN EARLY ON.

(Actor) King James I: SMOKING IS A CUSTOM LOATHSOME TO THE EYE,

HATEFUL TO THE NOSE, HARMFUL TO THE BRAIN,

DANGEROUS TO THE LUNGS,

AND IN THE BLACK, STINKING FUME THEREOF

NEAREST RESEMBLING THE HORRIBLE SMOKE OF THE PIT

THAT IS BOTTOMLESS.

Narrator: IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 20th CENTURY,

SMOKING CAME UNDER ATTACK.

TOBACCO WAS LINKED TO CANCER AND OTHER DISEASES,

AND LAWSUITS AGAINST THE INDUSTRY GIANTS PROLIFERATED.

BUT AT THE DAWN OF THE 21st CENTURY,

MARLBORO STILL CONTINUES TO COMPETE FOR THE SPOT

AS THE BEST-SELLING BRAND-NAME PRODUCT IN THE WORLD.

(♪ Music Playing ♪)

AS DEMAND FOR VIRGINIA TOBACCO INCREASED,

SO DID THE NEED FOR LABOR.

AS EARLY AS 1619 THE FIRST AFRICANS,

ARRIVING ON A DUTCH SLAVE SHIP,

WERE TRADED FOR PROVISIONS AT JAMESTOWN.

THE AFRICANS, LIKE MANY POOR ENGLISHMEN

WHO WERE THEN ARRIVING IN THE COLONY,

WERE SOLD INTO INDENTURED SERVITUDE.

TECHNICALLY, THESE SERVANTS WOULD SERVE A FIVE-YEAR TERM

AND THEN BE FREE TO WORK TO PURCHASE THEIR OWN LAND,

BUT IN REALITY,

MANY INDENTURED SERVANTS WORKED CONSIDERABLY LONGER.

Dan Littlefield: AT THE TIME THAT THESE AFRICANS ARRIVED IN VIRGINIA,

VIRGINIA HAD NOT DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A SLAVE SOCIETY.

IT WAS GOING TO BE AN ENGLISH SOCIETY

AND THEY PREFERRED PEOPLE FROM ENGLAND,

EVEN OVER OTHER EUROPEANS.

BUT ONCE AFRICANS ARRIVED,

EVENTUALLY THEY WERE VIEWED AS A SOURCE OF LABOR.

Narrator: AMONG THE FIRST AFRICANS BROUGHT TO NORTH AMERICA

WAS A MAN WHOM HIS PORTUGUESE CAPTORS CALLED "ANTONIO."

WHEN HE ARRIVED IN JAMESTOWN IN 1621

SLAVERY DID NOT YET EXIST IN THE COLONY.

THUS, HE BECAME AN INDENTURED SERVANT

AND WAS GIVEN AN ENGLISH NAME: ANTHONY JOHNSON.

IN 1625 JOHNSON MARRIED THE ONLY AFRICAN WOMAN

RESIDING ON THE PLANTATION WHERE HE WORKED.

AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVITUDE,

ANTHONY JOHNSON FINALLY PURCHASED HIS FREEDOM.

BY SPONSORING FIVE INDENTURED SERVANTS FROM ENGLAND,

HE THEN ACQUIRED HIS OWN 250-ACRE TOBACCO FARM.

ANTHONY JOHNSON PROSPERED AS AN INDEPENDENT TOBACCO FARMER

IN VIRGINIA,

YET AT THE SAME TIME,

ATTITUDES TOWARDS AFRICANS IN THE REGION WERE CHANGING.

SENSING TROUBLE,

JOHNSON BEGAN TO SELL OFF PARCELS OF HIS LAND

TO VARIOUS WHITE SETTLERS.

IN 1664 THE JOHNSON FAMILY MOVED TO SOMERSET, MARYLAND

WHERE THEY RENTED LAND AND CONTINUED TO FARM.

FARMING IN MARYLAND WAS SUCCESSFUL FROM THE START.

FARMERS PRODUCED A SURPLUS OF GRAIN THEIR FIRST YEAR

AND SENT IT TO MARKETS IN NEW ENGLAND.

THEY THEN QUICKLY MOVED INTO TOBACCO PRODUCTION.

SOON, LIFE IN MARYLAND REVOLVED AROUND TOBACCO,

AS IT DID IN VIRGINIA.

Female Farmer: EVERYONE SMOKES WHILE WORKING OR IDLING,

MEN, WOMEN, GIRLS AND BOYS, FROM THE AGE OF SEVEN YEARS.

Narrator: ONE SETTLER DESCRIBED TOBACCO AS:

Maryland Settler: OUR MEAT, DRINK, CLOTHING AND MONIES.

Narrator: TOBACCO BROUGHT QUICK PROFITS,

BUT IT ALSO QUICKLY DEPLETED THE NUTRIENTS IN THE SOIL.

BECAUSE LAND WAS ABUNDANT,

WEALTHY FARMERS WERE ABLE TO EXPAND THEIR HOLDINGS,

AND THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR STEADILY INCREASED.

Michael Johnson: SERVANTS ARE BECOMING FREE,

BUT THEY AREN'T ABLE TO OBTAIN THE LAND

THAT THEY HAD HOPED THEY WOULD GET

AND SO -- EASILY AT LEAST --

AND SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING

IS MOVING OUT TO THE FRONTIERS OF SETTLEMENT

AND THAT IS CAUSING CONSTANT FRICTION

BETWEEN THE SETTLERS AND THE NATIVE AMERICANS.

Narrator: FRONTIER FARMERS MOVING OUT BEYOND THE FALL LINE

FELT THEIR INTERESTS TO BE INCREASINGLY AT ODDS

WITH THOSE OF THE OLD-MONEY PLANTERS

WHO DOMINATED THE EASTERN SEABOARD.

IN 1676 THIS FRICTION ERUPTED INTO ORGANIZED VIOLENCE,

LED BY NATHANIEL BACON.

(Actor) Nathaniel Bacon: SEE WHAT SPONGES HAVE SUCKED UP THE PUBLIC TREASURE

AND WHITHER IT HATH NOT BEEN PRIVATELY CONTRIVED AWAY

BY UNWORTHY FAVORITES AND JUGGLING PARASITES

WHOSE TOTTERING FORTUNES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED

AND SUPPORTED AT THE PUBLIC CHARGE.

Michael Johnson: BACON HIMSELF IS A YOUNG WHIPPERSNAPPER

WHO COMES FROM ENGLAND

AND WANTS TO BECOME ONE OF THE LEADERS OF VIRGINIA

AND FINDS HIMSELF KIND OF SHUT OUT OF POWER

BY THESE SORT OF OLD GUARD PEOPLE

WHO ARE RUNNING EVERYTHING.

HE THEN BECOMES THE LEADER OF THESE FRONTIER FIGHTERS

AGAINST THE INDIANS

AND IT TURNS INTO A CONFLICT BETWEEN HIM

AND THE OLD LEADERS OF THE COLONY

WHO ARE IN THE GOVERNMENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE OLD GUARD IN VIRGINIA FEARED MOST

WAS THAT BLACK PEOPLE,

BLACK PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN BOTH SERVANTS

AND BLACK PEOPLE WHO WERE SLAVES,

WOULD JOIN WITH WHITE PEOPLE WHO WERE SERVANTS

AND WHITE PEOPLE WHO HAD BECOME FREE,

TO TRY TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO DISPLACE THE GOVERNMENT

OR TO OVERTURN THE SOCIETY.

THAT WAS A FEAR.

AND THERE WERE SOME BLACKS AMONG BACON'S SUPPORTERS.

Narrator: AFTER MONTHS OF VIOLENCE

AND THE SUDDEN DEATH OF NATHANIEL BACON FROM DYSENTERY,

THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT

WAS FINALLY ABLE TO QUELL THE UPRISING.

Dan Littlefield: THE LAST GROUP OF REBELS TO SURRENDER

WAS A GROUP OF ABOUT 80 OR SO WHITE INDENTURED SERVANTS

AND ABOUT 20 BLACKS.

THE PLANTER CLASS RECOGNIZED THE THREAT THAT THIS CLASS ALLIANCE,

ACROSS RACIAL LINES,

REPRESENTED TO THE PLANTER CLASS

AND THEY SUBSEQUENTLY, VERY CONSCIOUSLY,

SOUGHT TO DIVIDE THEM

BY GIVING EXTRA ADVANTAGES TO POOR WHITE PEOPLE

AND DENYING THOSE ADVANTAGES TO POOR BLACK PEOPLE.

Narrator: THE FATE OF THE BLACK TOBACCO FARMER, ANTHONY JOHNSON,

IS INDICATIVE OF THIS TREND.

AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH,

JOHNSON STILL OWNED 50 ACRES OF LAND.

HE ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE THEM TO HIS SON RICHARD,

BUT A VIRGINIA COURT THWARTED JOHNSON'S DESIRE.

A JURY FOUND THAT,

BECAUSE JOHNSON "WAS A NEGRO AND BY CONSEQUENCE AN ALIEN"

THOSE 50 ACRES WOULD BE AWARDED

TO A LOCAL WHITE PLANTER INSTEAD.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF BACON'S REBELLION,

THE LABOR SYSTEM IN THE CHESAPEAKE REGION

MOVED EVER MORE STEADILY

FROM ONE BASED PRIMARILY UPON WHITE INDENTURED SERVITUDE,

TOWARD ONE BASED UPON THE ENFORCED LABOR

OF AFRICAN SLAVES.

(♪ Music Playing ♪)

Narrator: SUGAR CRAVINGS WERE AS PRONOUNCED

IN 17th-CENTURY ENGLAND AS THEY ARE IN AMERICA TODAY.

WITH THE COLONIZATION OF BARBADOS IN THE 1640s,

ENGLAND FINALLY HAD A REGION

IN WHICH TO DEVELOP SUGAR PLANTATIONS.

BY THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTURY,

BRITISH COLONIES EXPORTED

ABOUT 150,000 POUNDS OF SUGAR ANNUALLY;

BY THE YEAR 1700,

THIS NUMBER HAD SKYROCKETED TO 50 MILLION POUNDS.

SUGAR PRODUCTION IS VERY LABOR INTENSIVE.

SUGAR CANE MUST BE CUT THE MOMENT IT IS RIPE

AND THEN IMMEDIATELY GROUND.

THESE REQUIREMENTS WERE PART OF WHAT PROPELLED

THE SLAVE-LABOR SYSTEM.

AS THE SUGAR INDUSTRY EXPANDED

FROM ISLAND TO ISLAND THROUGHOUT THE CARIBBEAN,

SO DID SLAVERY.

THE DESIRE TO CONTINUE THE CARIBBEAN'S SWEET SUCCESS

WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE FOUNDING OF CAROLINA

AND TO THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY IN THAT COLONY,

VIRTUALLY FROM THE BEGINNING.

EVEN THOUGH SUGAR DID NOT BECOME A STAPLE CROP

IN BRITISH NORTH AMERICA,

THE LINK TO THE CARIBBEAN SHAPED THE SOCIOPOLITICAL CLIMATE

OF THE COUNTRY IN PROFOUND WAYS.

(♪ Music Playing ♪)

IN AUGUST OF 1669, AN ENGLISH SAILOR, JOHN COMING,

BOARDED A VESSEL CALLED, "THE CAROLINA" AS FIRST MATE.

DURING THE VOYAGE,

HE MARRIED ONE OF THE PASSENGERS, AFFRA HARLESTON,

ANOTHER WOULD-BE IMMIGRANT TO AMERICA.

THE CAROLINA SAILED FROM BRITAIN TO BARBADOS,

WHERE MORE SUPPLIES AND PASSENGERS ENTERED THE SHIP.

IN MARCH OF 1670,

THE SHIP'S OCCUPANTS FINALLY CAME ASHORE

NEAR WHAT WAS SOON TO BECOME CHARLES TOWN, SOUTH CAROLINA.

Jonathan Poston: CHARLESTON IS AT THE CONFLUENCE OF TWO RIVERS

AND AT THE APEX OF A VERY DEEP, VERY DESIRABLE, HARBOR

AND A HARBOR THAT CAN BE APTLY DEFENDED FROM SEVERAL POINTS.

THE COMMUNITY WAS AFFECTED BY A SORT OF TRADE,

AS WELL AS A LINK,

BETWEEN THE CARIBBEAN AND CHARLESTON

IN TERMS OF GOVERNANCE,

IN TERMS OF THE SETTING UP OF ITS RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL

AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

THE FAMILIES WHO WERE CONNECTED TO BARBADOS

HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE, PROBABLY, IN THE VERY BEGINNING.

Narrator: SHORTLY AFTER SETTLING IN NORTH AMERICA,

JOHN COMING WAS PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN.

FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS,

HE EARNED HIS LIVING SHUTTLING CARGO AMONG SOUTH CAROLINA,

ENGLAND AND BARBADOS.

MOST LIKELY, BENEATH THE DECKS OF HIS SHIPS,

JOHN COMING OFTEN CARRIED CAPTIVE AFRICANS,

FOR THE ENGLISH SETTLERS BEGAN IMPORTING SLAVES

FROM VIRGINIA AND BARBADOS

WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THEIR ARRIVAL.

THE ENGLISH LORDS WHO WERE GIVEN SOUTH CAROLINA

AS A PROPRIETORSHIP

TRIED TO ATTRACT ENGLISHMEN FROM BARBADOS,

WHERE A SYSTEM OF SLAVERY HAD ALREADY DEVELOPED.

AND SO THEY MADE PROVISIONS FOR INCREASING LAND GRANTS

TO PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT SLAVES WITH THEM.

Narrator: JOHN AND AFFRA COMING ACQUIRED LAND AND AROUND 1680,

THEIR FIRST SLAVES.

IN 1695, AFTER 25 YEARS OF MARRIAGE,

JOHN COMING DIED WITHOUT AN HEIR.

HE LEFT HIS IMMENSE 740-ACRE ESTATE, KNOWN AS "COMING'S T,"

AS WELL AS ALL OF HIS "CHATTELS" TO HIS WIFE AFFRA.

AFTER AFFRA COMING'S DEATH IN 1698,

THE "COMING'S T" PLANTATION WAS PASSED ON TO ELIAS BALL,

JOHN COMING'S ENGLISH NEPHEW.

OVER THE YEARS,

THE BALLS' HOLDINGS GREW INTO A SMALL EMPIRE

THAT WOULD LAST UNTIL THE CIVIL WAR.

(♪ Music Playing ♪)

Michael Johnson: THE WAY I THINK ABOUT THE 17th CENTURY IS

THE CENTURY BEGINS WITH THE REGION THAT IS THE CHESAPEAKE,

AS A REGION DOMINATED BY INDIANS, BY NATIVE AMERICANS,

THEIR CULTURES, THEIR PEOPLES,

THEIR LANGUAGES, THEIR RELIGIONS.

AND BY THE END OF THE 17th CENTURY,

THAT SAME REGION IS NO LONGER DOMINATED BY NATIVE AMERICANS,

ALTHOUGH THEY STILL PLAY A PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT ROLE.

THEY'RE STILL POWERFUL, BUT THEY AREN'T DOMINANT.

THE DOMINANCE HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO THE COLONISTS

WHO NOW CONTROL, ESPECIALLY, THE COASTAL STRIP OF THIS REGION.

THEY CONTROL IT MILITARILY AND POLITICALLY,

BUT THEY STILL DON'T REALLY CONTROL IT CULTURALLY.

AND PARTLY THEY DON'T BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS DIVERSITY.

DIVERSITY THAT IS INCREASED AFTER 1670

BY SO MANY AFRICANS COMING TO THIS REGION.

Narrator: IN CAROLINA,

AFRICAN SLAVES FORMED A MAJORITY OF THE COLONY'S POPULATION

ALMOST FROM THE FIRST.

BUT IN THE CHESAPEAKE REGION,

THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY GREW MORE GRADUALLY.

Dan Littlefield: IN THE EARLY PERIOD, CERTAINLY IN VIRGINIA,

THERE WERE BOTH WHITES AND BLACKS IN THE FIELD

AND THEY WERE NORMALLY, PROBABLY IN MOST CASES,

TREATED MORE OR LESS THE SAME IN TERMS OF THE WORKING DAY.

IT WAS WITH THE SHIFT FROM WHITE INDENTURED SERVANTS

TO AFRICAN LABOR,

AND THE SHIFT IN VIRGINIA IN THE 17th CENTURY

FROM WHITE TO BLACK, THAT THERE, IN MANY WAYS,

WAS A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO USE RACE AS A DIVIDING LINE.

Narrator: BACON'S REBELLION SERVED AS A MOMENT OF POLITICAL TRANSITION,

AFTER WHICH SOCIAL DIVISIONS WERE MORE CLEARLY DELINEATED

ALONG RACIAL LINES.

Dan Littlefield: ALTHOUGH WHITE INDENTURED SERVANTS WERE EXPLOITED,

SOMETIMES RUTHLESSLY,

THERE WERE SOME ASPECTS OF SLAVERY THAT THEY WERE SPARED.

THE CENTRAL ASPECTS OF SLAVERY

IS THAT THE PERSON SERVES FOR A LIFETIME

AND THAT THE CONDITION IS INHERITABLE.

SO THAT EVEN IF AN INDENTURED SERVANT

SERVED FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE, IN THE SENSE THAT HE DIED EARLY,

HIS DESCENDANTS, IF HE HAD ANY, WOULD NOT BE ENSLAVED.

Narrator: ONE HALLMARK OF THE SOUTHERN COLONIES

IS THE EARLY CONCENTRATION OF WEALTH AND POWER

IN THE HANDS OF AN ELITE CLASS OF LAND AND SLAVE OWNERS.

STAPLE CROPS, FORCED LABOR,

AND THE EMERGENCE OF A RIGID RACIAL HIERARCHY

CAME TO CHARACTERIZE THE SOUTH

IN THE EARLY YEARS OF ENGLISH SETTLEMENT ON THE CONTINENT.

Karen Kupperman: OWNERSHIP IS VERY IMPORTANT

AND ALL THE COLONIES, ALL THE COLONIES THAT SUCCEED,

OPERATE ON THIS BASIS THAT PEOPLE WHO COME, GET LAND,

AT LEAST IN THE FIRST GENERATION.

BUT OWNERSHIP ALSO IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

BECAUSE IT'S ALSO THEN EXTENDED TO OWNERSHIP OF LABOR.

IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME PRINCIPLE, I THINK.

IT'S CERTAINLY CLEAR TO ME, AT ANY RATE,

THAT THE PRINCIPLE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY AND LAND

WHICH HAS BEEN SO IMPORTANT,

ALSO IS EXTENDED,

IS EXACTLY THE SAME PRINCIPLE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY IN LABOR

SO THAT IT'S NOT --

IT'S VERY MUCH A MIXED TRADITION

RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING, I THINK.

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