Economic Consequences of Tobacco in Chesapeake Colonies

By the mid-17th century, the Chesapeake Colonies, particularly Virginia and Maryland, experienced significant demographic and economic changes. One of the main factors contributing to this transformation was the introduction of the tobacco cash crop, which not only spurred economic growth but also affected the labor system. The reliance on tobacco production led to the establishment of a system that utilized indentured servants before the eventual shift toward African enslaved labor. Understanding these dynamics is crucial to grasping the development of colonial society in this period.

What was one of the primary consequences of the economic reliance on tobacco in the Chesapeake Colonies?