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Agricultural Development inthe British-North American
Colonies
Paul Bruins
14.01.2013
Impact of Colonialism on Agriculture in Developing
Countries: Land, labor and plantations
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Topics to Discuss
1. Potential benefits and pitfalls to British American Colonies
under colonialism
2. Tobacco cultivation
3. Colonial farmers (post tobacco boom)
4. Land and labor
5. Choice as an indicator of development
6. Post colonialism / Modern tobacco
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Benefits & Pitfalls of Colonial
Rule in North America
BenefitsColonial rule as a means for expansion of agriculture,
gave access to:
Markets increased as the British Empire grew Growing demand for Colonial Goods
Military protection
Financing
Large amounts of young poor in Britain encouragedmigration (indentured servants)
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Benefits & Pitfalls of Colonial
Rule in North America
Pitfalls African American slavery
-Slavery first introduced by Dutch traders (1619)
Forced indigenous migration
-Native Americans were forced off of their land, thoughthey were initially relied upon by settlers
Gradual increase of control on agricultural exports, land
titles, and movement
-One of the main reasons for the signing of theDeclaration of Independence and the subsequent
revolution that followed
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Beginning of
Colonial Agriculture
Initially consumed exports from Britain, as well as products
produced through the help of natives
Colonists wished to be self-sufficient-Manufacturing tools, etc.
Colonists began receiving less from the British Government
-Subsistence farming
Cultivation of tobacco began in the early years
-Increased interest from foreign investors
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Tobacco Plantations
-The main focus of tobacco production in the British-American
Colonies was centered in Virginia and Maryland.
-Because of the massive amounts of land available, the initial
allotment of land for plantation usage was relatively
unorganized and contracts were often faulty.
The Virginia Company Formed with the aid of King
James I in 1606, the Company was tasked with
advancing the colonial settlements in Virginia.
-The development of the new world began to slow and costs
rose, which made the Virginia Company lose money.
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Tobacco Plantations
Cont.
For each share of stock in the company purchased, the
investor would be given 100 acres of land, along with an
additional 50 acres per immigrant that they brought with.*
Each plantation was given 1500 acres for public services
*These 50 acres would be rewarded within 7 years, as long as the immigrant worked for the
investor for at least 3 years, or died .
100 acres of glebe land was given along with 3 servants for the
local ministers
-Once completed, the company would begin a second,equal process, pending further investment
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Tobacco Plantations
Cont.
Plantations were extremely flexible, as long as they operated
within English Law
-Either the investor operated the land from abroad, or the
adventurer sent to manage the land would have authority.
-Plantations were allowed to trade freely with othersettlements as well as natives
Englands initial focus on tobacco exports caused them to
have a colony wholly built on smoke (Walsh, 2010)
It was not until the latter half of the century that
England began to encourage the Colonies to diversify
their agriculture.
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Tobacco Plantations
Recap
Tobacco cultivation is widely seen as the kick-starting factorin colonial North American agricultural sector.
Tobacco production in the Virginia area Colonies grew from
9,000 kg in 1617 to over 18 million in 1727 (Hemphill).
What was seen in colonial tobacco production:
Heavy investment in tobacco cultivation from Britain
Encouragement to settle
-Indentured servants, land rewards to investors, etc.
Plantation style production using slave labor
Growing international dependence on colonial output
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Colonial Farmers:
Post Tobacco Boom
Though tobacco had been quite successful, the Colonies began to
push out and expand to different sectors.
Around 80% of colonists were farmers
Colonial farmers were much less efficient than farmers inBritain.
Inefficiencies were caused by following the old tracks
Colonial farmers wished to be self sufficient, but to do so they
required farming techniques known to both Indians and
Africans
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Land and Labor
Land was cheap for much of the pre-revolutionary history of the
United States, whereas labor and capital were expensive (not
including tobacco producers).
We can buy an acre of new land cheaper than we can
manure an old acre -Thomas Jefferson (McCusker, 1991)
The aim of the farmers in this country is not to make the most they
can from the land, which is, or has been cheap, but the most of the
labor, which is dear, the consequence of which has been, much ground
has been scratched over and none cultivated or improved as it ought tohave been. -George Washington (McCusker, 1991)
In addition to Native American and African American slave
labor, the Colonies saw large-scale immigration from Europe.
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Land and Labor Cont.
The fairly quick movement towards slave labor, though inherentlynegative, aided the rapid strengthening on the colonial cash crop
sector.
Land continued to be cheap, while labor prices began to drop
Large plantations used slave labor near the coast and in theSouth, while inland and Northern farmers became subsistence
farmers.
Massive population increases led to increase in production to
meet consumption needs.
-North American Colonies were a focal point of commerce, whereas
the British West Indies grew by only 50% during the same time period.
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Indicators of Development
Choice as a measure of development more options in aneconomy = more growth empirically correlates positively
with increasing economic indicators in the Colonies.
However, 1/3 of the population were slaves.-Post 1650, the Colonies saw a higher population increase in
slaves than in free populations
Additionally, economic indicators would tell us that there was an
overall shift in welfare of the nation.
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**Later in U.S. history, the more diversified regions in the Colonies showed much
higher amounts of economic gain (i.e. Virginia, Maryland, and other coastal states).
See map on next slide
Though there was large scale income stratification, the lower classdid not fail completely
-Impoverish people from Britain were those who found
themselves in relatively far better off conditions in the Colonies
Indicators of Development
Distribution among White settlers was also unequal.
Southern Colonies were more wealthy from plantations
Northern Colonies had more diversified economies**
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Choice as a Driver in
Development Cont.
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Post Colonialism
Massive increase in participation of the slave trade until the late
1800s.
As the Chang article notes, heavy investment was funneled into
agricultural development
-Land Grant UniversitiesMorrow Plots (1876)
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Modern Tobacco
Tobacco continues to have an influence on both British andUnited States economies
Both countries have seen a decline in output, however four of
the top six tobacco companies are based in either Britain or the
U.S.
-Production has shifted from developed to developing
countries
This is consistent with consumption levels and imports seen in
developed countries
*China is the largest producer of tobacco, with 35% market
power
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Modern Tobacco Cont.
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Concluding
Assumptions
1. Successful early cash crop (tobacco)
2. Protection and heavy encouragement for foreign investment
from Britain
3. Foreign trade made agricultural development possible (i.e.
export driven economy)
4. Plantations and the use of slavery led to increased agriculturaloutput into the international market in the South, while the
Northern Colonies diversified their economies.
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References
FAO. 2003. Projections of tobacco production, consumption, and trade to the year 2010. Rome. Accessed on12.01.13 from ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/006/y4956e/y4956e00.pdf
Growing a Nation: The Story of American Agriculture. Historical Timeline17th-18th Centuries. Accessed
on 13.01.13 from http://www.agclassroom.org/gan/timeline/17_18.htm
Hemphill, John II. Tobacco. Accessed on 13.01.13 from http://www.history.com/topics/tobacco
Historic Jamestowne. Virginia Company. Accessed on 13.01.2013 fromhttp://apva.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=22
Kulikoff, Allan. Colonial American Economy. Accessed on 12.01.13 from
http://www.history.com/topics/colonial-economy
McCusker, John. 1991. The Economy of British America. University of North Carolina Press.
The Tobacco Atlas. Tobacco Company Profits. Accessed on 13.01.13 fromhttp://www.tobaccoatlas.org/industry/tobacco_companies/profits/
University of Illinois Champaign Urbana. 2001. The Morrow Plots: A Landmark for Agriculture. Accessed
on 13.01.13 from http://apva.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=22
ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/006/y4956e/y4956e00.pdfhttp://www.agclassroom.org/gan/timeline/17_18.htmhttp://apva.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=22http://www.history.com/topics/colonial-economyhttp://www.tobaccoatlas.org/industry/tobacco_companies/profits/http://apva.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=22http://apva.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=22http://www.tobaccoatlas.org/industry/tobacco_companies/profits/http://www.history.com/topics/colonial-economyhttp://www.history.com/topics/colonial-economyhttp://www.history.com/topics/colonial-economyhttp://apva.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=22http://www.agclassroom.org/gan/timeline/17_18.htmftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/006/y4956e/y4956e00.pdf7/28/2019 Colonialism- Paul B.
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References Cont.
U.S. Census Bureau. Household Income for States: 2010-2011. September 2012 accessed on13.01.13
from http://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/acsbr11-02.pdf
Walsh, Lorena. 2010. Motives of Honor, Pleasure and Profit: Plantation Management in the Colonial
Chesapeake 1607-1763. The University of North Carolina Press.
http://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/acsbr11-02.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/acsbr11-02.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/acsbr11-02.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/acsbr11-02.pdf7/28/2019 Colonialism- Paul B.
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Questions
2. Is it easier to develop a countrys agricultural sector
by using cash crop wealth (relying on imports), rather
than focusing on domestic production of grain,
livestock, etc?
1. Overall, did colonialism have a direct positiveimpact on the development of the United States?
3. Why do you think advertising of cigarettes andother tobacco products in the United States has
changed so drastically, given its historical value?
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