Trade in the Chesapeake Colonies by Karen C.

Trade in the Chesapeake Colonies
Despite John Smith’s statement, “As for tobacco, we never then dreamt of it”, Pocahontas’s husband to be, John Rolfe began planting West Indian tobacco seeds in 1612 (Roark et al., 2009, p. 77). The plant grew wild and Native Americans had cultivated small quantities for years. In fact, Columbus observed the natives “drinking smoke” during his first voyage (Roark et al., 2009, p. 77). Little did he know the impact this crop would have on the coming colonies, Europe, and the entire world for centuries.
A market for tobacco was readily available across the ocean. In 1616 the colonies exported 2500 lbs of leaf. This number grew to 50,000 lbs in just two years and became the “economic salvation of colony”(Breuer, 2011). The demand continued and “by the end of the seventeenth century, England was importing more than 20,000,000 pounds of colonial tobacco per year” (“Economic aspects of tobacco, n.d, para. 8). Consequently, both Maryland and Virginia “shared a devotion to tobacco” (Roark et al., 2009, p.87).
Tobacco production was indeed successful and profitable, but problems would soon be identified. The crop “exhausts” the land and necessitated new fields (Breuer, 2011). Land was readily available, but labor soon became a problem. Tobacco cultivation contributed to increased immigration thanks to the headright policy, indentured servitude and slavery, and westward land expansion and tensions with natives. Problems continued later in the seventeenth century as supply outweighed demand and mortality rates decreased among planters and servants. Centuries later, tobacco continues to be subject of controversy and debate.
Breuer, K. (2011). The Chesapeake colonies: Virginia and Maryland [PowerPoint presentation]. Retrieved from https://elearn.uta.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_100966_1%26url%3D
Roark, J., Johnson, M., Cohen, P., Stage, S., Lawson, A., Hartmann, S.(2009). The American Promise (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Tobacco.org. (n.d.). Economic aspects of tobacco during the colonial period 1612-1776. Retrieved from http://www.tobacco.org/History/colonialtobacco.html