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In the beginnings of American agriculture, a recurring theme was the power dynamic between nature, humanity, and race, as was demonstrated with natural conditions (such as soil) that affected the state of colonial agriculture. In addition, colonial farming also depended on the state of race relations, such as relations between the British and Native Americans.

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1500-1600: Destruction of Native Agrarian Tribes

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1500-1600: Destruction of Native Agrarian Tribes

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Due to Spanish and other European explorers, different agricultrually skilled tribes were ravaged by foreign diseases. After the arrival of the English, native tribes became dependent on English fur, causing a decline in natural resources. (Growing Nation)

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The disease-initiated devastation caused by European explorers towards the Natives demonstrated the unbalanced power dynamic between the Europeans and natives when the two groups first interacted.  European settlers gained power over the natives as disease decimated the ill-prepared natives. When the English arrived, they cozened the natives into buying English fur while also encouraging the excessive hunting of wildlife. Many susceptible native tribes followed the suggestions of the English, devastating the wildlife population while ignoring traditional agriculture. The Europeans gained a disproportionate amount of power, and control over the land, as a result of manipulation, and the spread of disease in North America. (Growing Nation)

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Early 1600's to 1620: Wampanoag Farm with Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving

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Early 1600's to 1620: Wampanoag Farm with Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving

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When the pilgrims first attempted to begin farming on Massachusetts soil, they found the shallow soil was hard to cultivate and till. (Sauer, Amelinkcx) With help from an English-speaking Native named Squanto, the Wampanoag introduced the "Three Sisters" method, the interloping of growing beans, corn, and squash, which ultimately lead to the first Thanksgiving. (Amelinkcx)

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Correspondence between the Wampanoag and pilgrims demonstrated the power dynamic between the natives and settlers. When the Anglo-Saxon pilgrims first arrived in the Americas, they failed to adapt to the unfamiliar and foreign climate around them. This disadvantage showed that, contrary to past events, the pilgrims, who were European settlers, did not have any superior qualities compared to the natives. The power dynamic shifted from being overwhelmingly towards the European to being in favor of Natives.

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1607-1610: Jamestown is established, followed directly by a period of starvation and famine.

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1607-1610: Jamestown is established, followed directly by a period of starvation and famine.

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Named after England's ruling king, James the First, Jamestown was established in 1607 by some of the first British colonists. (Growing Nation) In the severe winter of 1609-1610, a period of starvation known by primary sources as "The Starveigne Time" ravaged the colony's agricultural supplies, causing the few survivors of the famine to become destitute. (Hermes)

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The catastrophe of the Starving Time showed the power dynamic between the natives and the British. The relationship between the Powhatan tribe and Jamestown colonists was dominated by hostility as the settlers built Jamestown on Powhatan hunting grounds. (Dominey) During a disease-ridden famine before the Starving time, Jamestown was at its most vulnerable state.  Even when the Powhatan tribe held momentary power over the dying colonists, they did not use this power to eliminate the colony and instead decided to help them by providing food. (Dominey) A similar occurrence would be when the Wampanoag chose to support the pilgrims, even when the puritans were at their mercy as they had no food. While an innate aspect of power is that it corrupts,the actions of the native tribes have proved that such corruption is dependent on who wields power.

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In 1619, a shipment of  "20 or odd" slaves were brought to Jamestown by a collection of European pirates. (Ponti) These African natives would become indentured servants to their white masters, increasing the agricultural labor force of the colony, further supporting tobacco and regular crop production.

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The unpaid labor of the first enslaved Africans in Jamestown signifies the exploitation of power in a race-based power dynamic. Contrary to the power dynamic in events 1 and 2, the European colonists had absolute authority over the lives of the first enslaved Africans brought to Jamestown. White farmers abused their dominance over the vulnerable Africans, forcing them to work in tobacco fields for no pay. (Ponti) While the farmers justified their forced labor as a means to expand Jamestown's agriculture and economy (Reynolds, Kendi), the Puritans justified slavery using religion, citing verses from the bible where slavery was permitted in the eyes of God. (Morrison) Paramount in colonial history, slavery began because of European racism and the abuse of power.

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Connection Between the Tobacco Trade and Mercantilism.

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Connection Between the Tobacco Trade and Mercantilism.

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Beginning with the discovery of tobacco in North and South America, the European tobacco trade held significance in the history of mercantilism. In the early colonial era, tobacco was grown as a valuable cash crop. The prominence of tobacco eventually caused the crop to be used as a medium of exchange within the colonies. Native to the Americas, Britain soon made the trade of tobacco exclusive between the colonies and the mother country. As with wool and other exports, the colonies were forbidden from trading with foreign nations other than Britain. The governing powers of Britain, namely the king and parliament, used their authority to maximize income from trade between Britain and the colonies. The heavy trade restrictions imposed on the colonies would drive the colonial economy to depression multiple times. This system of exclusivity was unsustainable, and the settlers within the colonies would eventually protest. (Pecquet)

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Amelinckx, Andrew. “The Pilgrims Had No Idea How to Farm Here. Luckily, They Had the Native Americans.” Modernfarmer.Com, 23 Nov. 2016, https://modernfarmer.com/2016/11/pilgrims-no-idea-farm-luckily-native-americans/

soilsmatter. “What Type of Farming Challenges Did the Pilgrims Face?” Wordpress.Com, 15 Nov. 2016, https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2016/11/15/what-type-of-farming-challenges-did-the-pilgrims-face/

“The Seeds of Change 1600-1929.” Growinganation.Org, https://growinganation.org/content/show-
content/the_seeds_of_change/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2021.

Hermes, Patricia. The Starving Time: Elizabeth’s Jamestown Colony Diary. Perfection Learning, 2002.

Dominey, Stephan. A Short History of Jamestown: The Utopian Legal Order of the Massachusetts Bay Colony: Story about Massachusetts Bay Colony. Independently Published, 2021.

Ponti, Crystal. “America’s History of Slavery Began Long before Jamestown.” HISTORY, 14 Aug. 2019, https://www.history.com/news/american-slavery-before-jamestown-1619.

Limpert, Ellie. “Growing Native American Heritage: The Three Sisters — Poughkeepsie Farm Project.” Farmproject.Org, Poughkeepsie Farm Project, 31 Mar. 2016, https://www.farmproject.org/blog/2016/3/31/growing-native-american-heritage-the-three-sisters.

“Chapter 2, Puritan Power.” Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, Thorndike Press, a Part of Gale, a Cengage Company, Waterville, ME, 2020.

Morrison, Larry R. “The Religious Defense of American Slavery Before 1830.” Kingscollege.Net, https://www.kingscollege.net/gbrodie/The%20religious%20justification%20of%20slavery%20before%201830.pdf. Accessed 11 Dec. 2021.

Extension Source:
Pecquet, Gary M. “BRITISH MERCANTILISM AND CROP CONTROLS IN THE TOBACCO COLONIES:A STUDY OF RENT-SEEKING COSTS.” Cato.Org, https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/cato-journal/2003/1/cj22n3-5.pdf. Accessed 10 Dec. 2021.