Patrician and Plebeian Or The Origin and Development of the Social Classes of the Old Dominion

"Patrician and Plebeian in Virginia" by Thomas Jefferson Wertenbaker, is a historical exploration of Virginia's social classes that challenges common assumptions about the origins of its aristocracy. Contrary to the popular belief that Virginia's elite descended from noble English families, the book argues that they emerged from a combination of ambitious merchants and regular immigrants adapting to the New World. It looks at the ways economic, political, and social forces created Virginia's class system, revealing a more complex history than simple noble lineage. The book suggests a shift in the Virginia planters' identity, their relationship with England, and how they adapted to the local challenges. This sets the stage for examining the political and economic factors that shaped social hierarchy, dispelling myths and painting a lively picture of colonial Virginia’s societal transformation.