Tuesday, October 14, 2008

During Bacon's Rebellion, why did mass consumption of tobacco from colonies effect the decreasing price?

Body:


I. Tobacco farming was a major effect on settlers and land, during Bacon’s Rebellion.
-----A. There was a large demand for tobacco and for hard labor from settlers to produce enough tobacco to meet that demand.
----------1. The demand for tobacco increased, making the production of tobacco crops important, causing harder work for settlers.
---------------a. The “…planters who grew as much tobacco as possible.” (77)
--------------------i. The planters who were overworked consisted mostly of indentured servants and slaves.
-----------2. The hard labor from settlers meant that they received certain rewards for their work.
-----------------a. “The English settlers worked hard because their labor promised greater rewards…” (77)
-----------------------i. Some rewards given were more land.

B. Colonists cleared the lands to plant tobacco in a unique way.
----------1. Colonists cleared land to plant tobacco by clearing all trees but leaving the stumps, and planting around.
------------------a. “Girdling brought sunlight to clearing but left fields studded with tree stumps, making the use of plows impractical.” (77)
------------------------i. “Girdling” is a process where the colonists cut a ring around the tree, eventually causing the tree to die.



II. Tobacco was traded in many different ways to many different people. The increase in trade and demand affected the cost of tobacco, causing it to decrease.
A. Tobacco was traded mostly from the Chesapeake to the Europeans.
----------1. English colonists traded tobacco with Europe, which was sold mostly in European markets.
-----------------a. “…English colonists in North America sent so much tobacco to European markets that it became an affordable indulgence used often by many people.” (77)
----------2. The cost of the tobacco colonists grew and sold to England, was England’s decided cost.
-----------------a. “ The colonists grew tobacco to sell to England, but England set the price.” ( Zinn and Stefoff, pg. 39 )

B. The cost of tobacco became affordable.
----------1. Tobacco became affordable, eventually, due to increasing consumption/ demand and increased production.
C. Virginia Company
---------1. The Virginia Company had no intentions of growing and selling tobacco, however, John Rolfe planted the seeds to see if they would grow, and they did.
--------------A. “ Initially, the Virginia Company had no plans to grow and sell tobacco…” (77)
--------------B. “ John Rolfe […] planted West Indian tobacco seeds in 1612 and learned they flourished in Virginia.” (77)

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