The Planters of Colonial Virginia

"The Planters of Colonial Virginia" by Thomas Jefferson Wertenbaker is a historical piece that uncovers the lives and impact of Virginia's smaller planters during the colonial era. It paints a picture of the early English settlers' dreams of finding a better life, driven by tales of affordable land and wealth. However, this dream clashes with the harsh realities of the time, including the challenges of making a living in a world dominated by large plantations that depended on enslaved people. It reveals how these independent farmers found themselves fighting to keep their place in the face of economic hardships and the rising importance of slavery. The narrative highlights the shift from a colony of independent farmers to one increasingly dependent on slavery, which had a big effect on both the white planters and the enslaved Africans who shaped Virginia's colonial society.