Virginia under the Stuarts 1607-1688

Name: Virginia under the Stuarts 1607-1688
Author: Thomas Jefferson Wertenbaker

By Thomas Jefferson Wertenbaker

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History - American History - British History - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750)

About This Book

The study traces the political, economic, and social evolution of colonial Virginia under the Stuart regime, drawing on British archival material to reconstruct governance, imperial policy, and local institutions. It examines the tobacco-based economy, the influence of trade regulations and taxes, patterns of patronage and judicial abuse, and relations with Indigenous peoples. It treats a major popular uprising and its roots in poverty, land pressure, and resentment of elite corruption as symptomatic of deeper tensions. Chapters integrate administrative records, legislative acts, and correspondence to show how metropolitan aims and local interests produced recurrent conflict and institutional change.

About the Author

Thomas Jefferson Wertenbaker

Thomas Jefferson Wertenbaker was an American historian and author known for his in-depth studies of colonial Virginia and its social structures. His notable works include "Bacon's Rebellion, 1676," which examines the causes and consequences of this pivotal uprising, and "Give Me Liberty: The Struggle for Self-Government in Virginia," where he explores the evolution of governance in the colony. Wertenbaker's scholarship provides valuable insights into the complexities of early American society, particularly the dynamics between different social classes, as seen in his work "Patrician and Plebeian." His contributions have significantly enriched the understanding of Virginia's historical landscape during the colonial period.