First settled upon in 1492, America has been around for just over six hundred years. However, during this time period, the country as a whole has experienced vast transformations. Of all these changes, the country's economy has completely revolutionized. America's economy has always had a direct relationship with the current time period's main affair because the economy has always affected or been effected by the specific situation in some shape or form. These relationships, although not limited, vary from America's first cash crop, independence from England, and even the Civil War.
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Upon first settlement in Jamestown, English colonists were in need of a money generator. Originally, seeking help from the Native Americans, the English colonists were taught how to farm. .
But the English soon wanted more than just a "part" of Indian territory. Their need for land was suddenly intensified by a new development- the cultivation of tobacco as an export crop. In 1613, the colony sent its first shipment of tobacco to London, a small but significant four barrels" worth. The exports grew dramatically from 2,300 pounds in 1616 to 19,000 the following year, and to 60,000 by 1620. The colonists increasingly coveted Indian lands, especially the already cleared fields. Tobacco agriculture stimulated not only territorial expansion but also immigration. During the "Great Migration" of 1618-1623, the colony grew from four hundred to forty-five hundred people (Takaki, 35).
As stated by Takaki, tobacco was indeed a moneymaking cash crop and as a result, brought great wealth to the English colonists. Due to the increased revenue brought in, people in England found it very enticing to make the trip over the Atlantic Ocean so they too could generously profit. However, there was a slight problem, the labor for tobacco cultivation was hard, tedious work, and the colonists needed cheap labor. For that reason, in 1619, the first Africans were brought to Jamestown.
