any info on virginia colony?

Answer 1

One of the interesting things about colonization was that it began as a business venture as well as a social experiment. The plan was to send the idle, the poor, and the criminals to work colony. At that time the poor were rampant in the streets and starving and being executed for stealing food. This plan would basically control and employ the poor, get them out of the streets of the capital and generate new wealth for England. They would produce commodities for importing and sale in England. These were primarily products that could not be made in England and would reduce England's need for dependence on other importers such as the Spanish and Portuguese. England (especially the wealthy upper class who had it good) saw this as an investment for England; they did not need to run away to create a new life necessarily. Only some of the wealthy wanted this, but colonization really started as a means to create more wealth. Most of the initial people sent to colonize were forced to go or sent there as punishment; most of them died from sickness and starvation. Also slavery was not the first means used to cultivate and develop the land; it began with indentured servitude. Virginia was colonized by the Viriginia Co. a corporation formed by the West country men; the funds came from the crown and other big wigs in England.
Another interesting fact is that the whole east coast or all the land that they saw was called Viriginia, not just the state. Remember states has not been created yet.
Also the colony was named for the "Virgin" Queen Elizabeth.
Later when Jamestown was formed it was named for King James.