Economics played a large role in spurring on the start of the American Revolution in most colonies, and this was no different in Virginia. However, in Virginia, like in other southern colonies, many colonists were in large amounts of debt. The situation was so dire for debtors, for which the penalty ranged from seizure of property to execution, that several found the nest solution to be suicide (Holton, 43). For a Virginian debt was dangerous, it made life dangerous. It was unclear, even to Virginians, as to where their economic problems stemmed from. Was it from their own colonial lifestyle or British Imperial policies? Many Virginians were in debt before Parliament began enforcing the Navigation Acts, mercantilism, followed by more taxes.
The South was dependent on agriculture, and the Navigation Acts and mercantilism cost the South quite a bit of money by limiting its trade with other …show more content…
It was a combination of these three things combined with fear that sparked the spirit of a revolution in Virginians. Race and class influenced which side Virginians fought for during the American Revolution. Slaves tended to side with the British (Holton, 135), as freedom was offered by Lord Dunmore to those who fought for the British army (Holton, 157). Black slaves planned uprisings, influenced by Pontiac’s Rebellion (Holton, 139). The tension between classes stemmed from tension between ranks, and pay, in the militias. In addition to a disparity in pay, was the shortage of supplies for the lower class militiamen, something that threatened to make them abandon their fellow patriots for the British and a better supplied army (Holton, 174). Landlords and tenants, also, had conflict, in that landlords were seeking back rent and threatening eviction (Holton, 179). Much of this internal conflict stemmed from the lack of government present in Virginia (Holton,
The South was dependent on agriculture, and the Navigation Acts and mercantilism cost the South quite a bit of money by limiting its trade with other …show more content…
It was a combination of these three things combined with fear that sparked the spirit of a revolution in Virginians. Race and class influenced which side Virginians fought for during the American Revolution. Slaves tended to side with the British (Holton, 135), as freedom was offered by Lord Dunmore to those who fought for the British army (Holton, 157). Black slaves planned uprisings, influenced by Pontiac’s Rebellion (Holton, 139). The tension between classes stemmed from tension between ranks, and pay, in the militias. In addition to a disparity in pay, was the shortage of supplies for the lower class militiamen, something that threatened to make them abandon their fellow patriots for the British and a better supplied army (Holton, 174). Landlords and tenants, also, had conflict, in that landlords were seeking back rent and threatening eviction (Holton, 179). Much of this internal conflict stemmed from the lack of government present in Virginia (Holton,