Program Information

Travel with Professor Brad as he visits the Jamestown settlement, now over 400 years old. Lured with promises of finding gold and owning their own land, the first settlers soon found out that, while beautiful, it was tough living. Not only did they have to contend with blistering heat in the summer and bitter cold in the winter, typhoid outbreaks and indian attacks threatened their health and safety.

ABCs of Agriculture informs about Virginia's farming community and how it affects you. ABCs of Agriculture are produced by the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) - an educational program which encourages and enhances agricultural literacy in Grades K-5 and 6-8.

Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the ABC’s of Agriculture! We’re here today to talk about the letter J, for Jamestown.

When the first settlers came to Jamestown they were lured with promises of finding gold and owning their own land. What they soon found out was that while beautiful, it was tough living. Summer brought blistering heat, and winter bitter cold. Typhoid outbreaks and Indian attacks threatened their health and safety.

To a great extent, these settlers did not know how to farm. Jamestown council president, Captain John Smith declared that, “He that will not work, shall not eat,” but, food was scarce. The winter of 1609-1610 came to be known as the “Starving Time”. But, that would change….

Jamestown was the first New World settlement in which tobacco was grown as a cash crop. Tobacco became a major exportable cash crop, to the point where it was grown in the streets. Laws had to be passes requiring farmers to devote a percentage of their efforts to growing food.
The first shipment of tobacco was sold in London in 1614…. And by 1619 more than 10 tons had been exported.

England prohibited the direct sale of tobacco to other countries… such exports were handled through London and those become subject to excise taxes. That regulation was among the factors that led to the American revolution.

You can celebrate the founding of Jamestown for the 400th year anniversary in 2007!
For the ABC’s of Agriculture, in Jamestown, I’m Professor Brad! See you next time!

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