Tobacco and Social Structure in Early Virginia

Your name
Professor’s name
Course name
Date of submission
Tobacco and Social Structure in Early Virginia
During the 17th century, an early English settler realized the efficiency of tobacco growing in Virginia. Insofar as farming had been considered non-lucrative, tobacco grown in Virginia managed to bring about profitable returns in England. At the time, most colonists resorted to tobacco growing because of its influence in Early Virginia. The crop, mainly grown in Chesapeake, a city situated in Virginia, was considered the staple of this region (Kulikoff 157-158). In addition to influencing their economic status, tobacco growing in Early Virginia also had a great impact on the region’s social structure.
Due to its suitable environment, tobacco was grown in Virginia as a cash crop. They often sold these crops so as to generate profits and returns (Parish 141). Tobacco was used as a medium for these Virginians to acquire products that could not be farmed or planted. As seen, they mostly traded with English or Scottish folk. Tobacco was considered the most treasured product in the Northern parts of America, due to its lucrative nature. As its exports to Great Britain proved successful, it opened the avenue for these Virginians to deliver tobacco in Europe and its constituent regions (Kulikoff 157-158). In exploring tobacco growing in Virginia, it is essential to understand its influence on social and class structures.
Fore mostly, it is salient that tobacco growing encouraged the institution of the slave trade.

During the time, these Westerners captured Africans and sold them into slavery. In Virginia, they were forced to work in tobacco farms and plantations, thereby, depicting the prevalence of social structures while growing tobacco. Unlike their masters, slaves in Virginia thrived in dilapidated conditions as they worked and lived in these tobacco plantations (Hom 333). Tobacco growing, therefore, created a distinction between the bourgeoisies and proletariats in Virginia. The prevailing nature of social structures in the region did not allow tobacco planters to work on their farms. They hired competent labor and harbored them as slaves. In fact, most planters resorted to the acquisition of slaves due to the affordability involved in owning individuals rather than having workers. These gestures clearly revealed the extent of class consciousness and structures in Virginia. There are great socio-economic differences between masters and slaves, during the 17th century in Virginia (Shell 211).
Even in exploring these social structures, it is important to demarcate them so as to understand the in-depth relationship between tobacco growing and social structures in Early Virginia. In addition to enslaved farmers, there were house servants, free blacks, middlemen and wealth folk. Each individual played a specific role in Virginia’s society; clearly showcasing the extent to which tobacco farming shaped the region’s social structures (Shell 211). They executed different roles depending on the role in the social hierarchy apropos of tobacco growing in Virginia. Quite ironically- the house servants- despite being slaves too, were offered better treatment that enslaved farmers. The issue of pricing these tobacco crops also delineates subtle ideas about the social structures in Virginia. While some of the planters produced fewer quantities of tobacco, they still managed to accrue large profits, due to their affiliation with gentility. It was impossible for them to bring in little returns; especially due to their status quo in these societies (Casey & Robert 345).
Moreover, social classes are also notable among these tobacco planters. As land grants were a necessity for planters to own farms, they were only offered to those tobacco farmers with many workers and slaves. It, therefore, brought about forms of class distinctions as the wealthy groups began competing with one another due to class-consciousness. The wealthier folk were given priority because the Virginian governments trusted them with the production of more tobacco crops (Shell 211). As a result, unlike less-wealthy planters, they were not termed as liabilities. Even if most of these social and class structures were accentuated by individuals, the region’s government played a significant role in the same. Delving further into these social structures, however, clearly shows the absolute dependency of these two groups on one another. As it was impossible for farm owners to exist without laborers, it was equally tasking for the latter to survive without working in these tobacco farms and plantations.
Since there was a prevalence of slavery in Virginia, tobacco farming increased the number of Africans sold into the slave trade. The indentured workers, according to farm owners, proved incompetent due to their inability to remain enslaved and oppressed. They wanted workers that would become their property and permanent belonging. For this reason, most of these Virginian farm owners resorted to purchasing human beings, as slaves (Breen 35). The plant owners also detested indentured workers because the latter had liberty to own land. By withholding slaves, it was easier for these plantation owners to exercise their control over them. Offering them accommodation, food and other basic requirements would ensure that the slaves strive to please their masters.
The challenges affiliated with the imposition of control on less-wealthy individuals are a clear portrayal of class and social structures in Early Virginia. On a lighter note, slavery is also evident due to the scarcity of these indentured workers. It was tasking for the English settlers to offer labor thus, plantation owners were forced to depend on labor obtained from slaves (Casey & Robert 345). The problem of social structures was so prevalent that the English government authorized the institution of the slave trade. According to their policies, it is evident that social structures managed to alleviate tobacco growing and farming (Boles 39-40). Digging further into class hierarchies, it is essential for individuals to understand the role of tobacco growing in Virginia. Even before realizing the lucrative nature of this cash crop in Virginia, the American society was divided into various social structures (Seavoy 29-30). They had members of the upper, middle and lower classes. Much as tobacco farming prevailed in Virginia, it is the English families that were classified under wealthy folk (Breen 35-36). They owned these farms and plantations where slaves and laborers were overworked. Other groups such as vendors and merchants were also part of the social hierarchical structure in Virginia. These parties played an important role in ensuring an understanding of these social structures in the region.
Amidst the Englishmen, other wealthy folk included clergymen, intellectual folk, and magistrates. During the rampage about tobacco farming, these groups were classified at the topmost place apropos of the social hierarchy (Seavoy 30). Exploring tobacco growing and social structures in Virginia also addresses rural and urban areas. Most of the prominent cities and towns, harboring wealthy folk, were housed in urban areas due to the differences in social structure. The amount of wealth amassed by individuals in urban centers alleviated sea transport and assisted Virginia in the same. Rural areas, despite the large amounts of land, mostly accommodate people from the lower classes. As the Southern regions were highly rural, slaves are seen to occupy the greatest populace. The wealth utilized in handling agricultural practices in the rural areas cannot be compared to the one in urban areas. At this point, it is quite evident to understand the inevitabilities of social structures while keenly examining tobacco farming in Early Virginia (Seavoy 29-30).
During the period of tobacco growing and British supremacy, there was an in-depth understanding of social structures in Virginia. Even if they were both European affiliated, the British possessed more power than Americans. The rift between these groups also delineated the issue of social structures as Englishmen settled in America, imposing their rule on the citizens. Insofar as they wanted to colonize America, they were considered more superior than the Americans. According to Casey and Robert, the failed British influence and rule in America is, in fact, the topmost depiction of social and class structures during the period of tobacco growing in Early Virginia (Casey & Robert 345). While examining social structures in Early Virginia, it is also important to understand the scope of race and gender. Most of these slaves were African-Americans who were segregated by folk from the West. The owners, on the other hand, were mainly individuals from the West. These racial disparities also bring about notable controversies while understanding social structures in Virginia. The blacks were classified as low-class individuals, and white folk were considered superior both socially and economically. The portrayal of these social structures was, therefore, accentuated by the evident racial relations in Virginia (Casey & Robert 345).
In conjunction with the race, there are also issues of gender tied with these social structures. During the time, females were required to simply handle domestic and household duties. The corporate world was set aside for their male counterparts; because of the stereotype against women in various societies. They believed that females were supposed to be submissive to their husbands and male figures, as a whole. The attempt to create a patriarchal society shows clearly that Early Virginia considered males to be financially endowed in comparison to females. For instance; apropos of tobacco growing, most females were given household duties while men struggled to provide for their families. Social structures also show that issues of segregating individuals based on race and gender is an unfortunate indicator of these prevalent social structures, as seen in the Virginian societies (Breen 35).
For tobacco growing to suffice, the Virginians required both owners and workers. It was impossible for the tobacco plantations and farms to reap benefits without labor. Additionally, the period witnessed extreme disparities in social classes, thereby, leading to class-consciousness. There were upper, middle and lower classes in America even before tobacco became a staple cash crop in the region. Tobacco growing is a lucrative endeavor that shaped Virginia’s historical background. In addition to fulfilling individuals that consume tobacco, the product ensures that others acquire finances for satisfying their needs. Despite its labor intensity, tobacco growing has impacted owners’ and workers’ lives both positively and negatively, respectively. White supremacy was wide spread due to the ability of these Europeans to rule over black through slave trade (Breen 35). Acquired from Africa, they did not have any other means of survival thus; these black folk had to labor for the Englishmen in their tobacco plantations. It was the laborer’s duty to answer to these masters owing to their status as slaves. Indeed, the farm owners require these laborers so as to gain profits and better returns (Casey & Robert 345).
As some individuals could not condone slave trade, they rebelled and revolted against these systems. They made it their personal initiative to eradicate and reduce the prevalence of slavery in Virginia. While the Englishmen produced tobacco, it was consumed by members of different social classes. John Rolfe was indeed an influential figure in Virginia’s history because he managed to set aside the nation as a region for tobacco farming and growth. The English settler facilitated exports of tobacco to various parts of the world. According to Rolfe, indentured servants were requisite for farming tobacco. They were the most important sources of labor before the owners began purchasing slaves. It was after this point that the masters wanted slaves due to their convenience and reliability. The profitable nature of tobacco hindered Virginia from diversifying and dwelling on other economic endeavors. It was impossible for the Virginian governments to begin delving into other ways of improving the state’s economy. In keenly observing tobacco growing in Virginia, it is quite unfeasible to separate the ideas from social structures. There were specific parties that depicted the existence of social structures in Early Virginia. It was indeed an inevitable aspect for the success of tobacco growing and profit generation in the region. Tobacco growing, as mentioned earlier, is a significant activity that shaped and molded the history of the U.S.
Works Cited
Boles, John B. A Companion to the American South. Malden, Mass: Blackwell Publishers, 2002. Internet resource.
Breen, Timothy H. Tobacco Culture: The Mentality of the Great Tidewater Planters on the Eve of Revolution. Princeton, NJ [u.a.: Princeton Univ. Press, 2001. Print.
Casey, Conerly C, and Robert B. Edgerton. A Companion to Psychological Anthropology: Modernity and Psychocultural Change. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub, 2005. Internet resource.
Kulikoff, Allan. Tobacco and Slaves: The Development of Southern Cultures in the Chesapeake, 1600-1800. UNC Press Books, 2012. Print.
Hom, James. Adapting to a New World: English Society in the Seventeenth-Century Chesapeake. UNC Press Books, 2012. Print.
Parish, Peter, J. Reader’s Guide to American History. Routledge, 2013. Print.
Seavoy, Robert. An Economic History of the United States: From 1607 to the Present. Routledge, 2013. Print.
Shell, E W. Evolution of the Alabama Agroecosystem: Always Keeping Up, but Never Catching Up. Montgomery, AL: NewSouth Books, 2013. Print.
Tillson, Albert H. Accommodating Revolutions: Virginia’s Northern Neck in an Era of Transformations, 1760-1810. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2010. Print.