Which crop helped to establish a profitable economy in colonial Virginia?

The crop that helped to establish a profitable economy in colonial Virginia was tobacco. Introduced to the colony in the early 17th century, tobacco quickly became a cash crop due to its high demand in Europe, particularly in England. The climate and soil of Virginia were well-suited for growing tobacco, leading to its widespread cultivation. Planting tobacco required a considerable amount of labor, which ultimately contributed to the system of indentured servitude and later the institution of slavery in the region.

As tobacco became increasingly profitable, it transformed Virginia’s economy, encouraging the expansion of plantations and increasing the colony’s importance in the Atlantic trade network. The economic reliance on tobacco not only shaped Virginia's agricultural practices but also influenced social and political structures within the colony, establishing a plantation economy that would impact the southern United States for centuries to come. This agricultural shift is a crucial topic in understanding the early economic foundations of colonial America.