ABSTRACT
By the beginning of the seventeenth century, the merchants of London, Plymouth, and Bristol were eager to colonize Virginia. This chapter describes the difficult years that passed before this stage of colonial development was reached and a neighbouring colony could be successfully founded. The merchants of London and Plymouth were eager to begin colonization in Virginia, a territory which at the time included the entire Atlantic coast from present-day North Carolina to Canada. The third landmark occurrence of 1619 was the authorization by the London Company of a legislature to be elected by every adult male colonist of Virginia. While the founding of Maryland by George Calvert may remind us of the earlier individual attempts of Gilbert and Raleigh to found colonies, Baltimore's had a happy ending. The economy of both Virginia and Maryland was based primarily on the production of tobacco, although wheat, fruit, and vegetables were also grown, and all types of livestock were raised.
