1 gen 1618 anni - Development of the headright system

Descrizione:

The new settlers restored order to Jamestown. They also began to grow tobacco. The colonists discovered that they could sell this crop in Europe for a great profit. The colony needed more settlers to grow more tobacco. To lure more settlers to Jamestown, the Virginia Company started the headright system in 1618. Under this system, each new person who came to the colony received 50 acres of land and another 50 acres for each family member who came.

Most of the people who arrived, however, did not come under the headright system. Most came as indentured servants. In exchange for passage to the to North America, as well as food and shelter, an indentured servant agreed to work on a farm for several years. After that time, the indentured servant would be free. Most indentured servants were poor English citizens in search of a new life.