The remaining colonists then got together and massacred the Indians and destroyed their village. A spokesman for the Virginia company said that by going to war the Indians "forfeited any claim to land" (Eric Foner 67). Now settlers spreading inland into Virginia would occupy Indians' land. This uprising showed the importance of land to the colony/colonists. The growing amount of property Virginia owned would mean more profit in the long run. .
In 1644, the Virginia Company surrendered its charter and became the first royal colony. After this move, Virginia had failed to achieve any of its promises to the company/settlers. Since London paid very little attention to the colonies, the local elite group took over the colony's development. This elite group was growing immensely in wealth due to the cultivation of the cash crop, tobacco. Since tobacco was such a hot commodity in Europe, tobacco became Virginia's substitute for gold. The result of the flourishing sales of tobacco resulted in a new wealthy class of tobacco planters. The spread of tobacco farming created a gap in social and minimal social unity. "It inspired a get-rich quick attitude and a frenzied scramble for land and labor" (Erin Foner 66). .
The social class system of Virginia slowly became oriented around the production/sales of tobacco. " wealthy landed gentry at the top; a group of small farmers, mostly former indentured servants who had managed to acquire land, in the middle; an army of pro laborers- servants and landless former indentured servants- at the bottom" (Eric Foner 67). Clearly, several economic issues shaped the development of Virginia/Jamestown. .
Religious positions, rather than economic issues determined the development of Maryland. Maryland was first establishing as a proprietary colony (a grant of land and governmental authority given to a person) in 1632, by King Charles I son, Cecilius Calvert aka Lord Baltimore.
