HY 101 Chapter Notes - Chapter Chapter Four: Headright, Half-Way Covenant, Salem Witch Trials
Document Summary
Half the people born in early virginia and maryland did not survive past age 20 due to widespread disease. At the beginning of the 18th century, virginia was the most populous colony with 59,000 people. Maryland was the 3rd largest, after massachusetts, with 30,000. By the 1630s, 1. 5 million pounds of tobacco were being shipped out of the chesapeake. Bay every year and almost 40 million by the end of the century. Because of the massive amounts of tobacco crops planted by families, "indentured servants" were brought in from england to work on the farms. In exchange for working, they received transatlantic passage and eventual "freedom dues", including a few barrels of corn, a suit of clothes, and possibly a small piece of land. Virginia and maryland employed the "headright" system to encourage the importation of servant workers. Under its terms, whoever paid the passage of a laborer received the right to acquire 50 acres of land.
