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RATINGS: Sites are rated from 1 owl (good) to a high of 5 owls. Read more- Virtual Jamestown: Indentured Servitude
The growth of tobacco as a cash crop led to prosperity — but prosperity came with a heavy cost. The demand for tobacco quickly fueled the demand for a cheap labor force. Virtual Jamestown presents this page of 17th-century statutes related to indentured servants. The documents address such topics as the "First recorded case of master-servant dispute" and "Laws clearly defining the differences between servant and slave."
- The European Tobacco Trade from the 15th to the 17th Centuries
Sir Francis Drake was responsible for bringing not only the potato to England, but also tobacco. According to this website, tobacco was ironically accepted as a wondrous plant with health benefits, while the potato was shunned due to fear that it was poisonous. An interesting commentary on the tobacco trade during the 15th through 17th centuries, this essay is a quick, but informative, read.
- The Plantation System and Indentured Servitude
Though the foundations of slavery in the South were laid by the first Virginia legislature, the first plantation system was developed without black slaves. This website, an educational series compiled by the Annenburg Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, addresses the institution of indentured servitude — the answer to Jamestown's labor shortage. An insightful look at this system of bondage, the article delves into the reasoning behind the system and the horrible conditions and consequences it actually created.
- Dry Drunk: The Culture of Tobacco in 17th- and 18th-Century Europe
From the Center for Humanities at the New York Public Library, this detailed history of the cultural effects of tobacco in 17th- and 18th-century Europe presents an extensive collection of historic prints and works of art. The collection includes examinations of topics such as "Travel and Discovery" and "Herbals and Health," and also branches off into less commonly explored areas such as "Questions of Gender" and "The Cure for Sneezing." Great writing, top-notch illustrations, and fascinating topics make this unique website one not to be missed.
- Economic Aspects of Tobacco during the Colonial Period 1612-1776
Once the colonists realized the potential wealth they could gain from harvesting tobacco, they planted it everywhere open land could be found. Tobacco was key to the economy and was even used as currency when gold and silver became scarce. This article looks at the role tobacco played in shaping the economy and the government of the Chesapeake region. Although not the prettiest site out there, it's unique in its depth and perspective and definitely worth checking out.
- Monardes on Tobacco
By the 1570s, tobacco use was all the rage in Spain. It was believed not only to be a source of pleasure, but also a wonderous plant with medicinal properties. Though it's common knowledge today that the effects of smoking are detrimental and can be life threatening, attitudes of 16th-century health practitioners were much different. This document presents the views of a physician of the time who described the beneficial uses of the plant by natives of the New World. It was published in 1577 under the title Joyfull Newes our of the Newe Founde Worlde.
- Prince George's County Tricentennial
Prince George's County in Maryland was established in 1696. It transformed rapidly (within 10 to 20 years) from open frontier to a settled community filled with many farms and families. And what was growing in the fields? Tobacco, of course. This page commemorates 300 years of Prince George's history and includes an excellent description of tobacco cultivation in these early colonial times.
The Growth of the Tobacco Trade
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