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The land that is now modern day Virginia was inhabited by Native Americans as much as 16,000 years ago.
Early groups were foragers, whereas later peoples became more sedentary and lived in river valleys.
From A.D. 900 until Jamestown became a settlement, Native Americans began farming in addition to
hunting and gathering. By the time of European arrival to the area, several tribes called the land
their home, including the Cherokee, Monacan, Powhatan, and numerous others.
The Spanish attempted and failed at establishing the first colony of what is now Virginia, after
having explored the area in the late 16th century. The Roanoke Colony was the first English colony in
the New World, founded at Roanoke Island, which at the time was part of Virginia and now resides within
North Carolina's borders; the colony mysteriously disappeared and became known as the "Lost Colony".
Jamestown became the first official settlement in Virginia, one of the original Thirteen Colonies of
England, in 1607. Early Virginian settlers profited from growing tobacco, but the plant's negative
affect on soil fertility meant that more and more land would be acquired, leading to continued strife
and battles between Native Americans and Virginians through the 17th century. Eventually the colonists
defeated the Native Americans. Ultimately the strenuous tobacco farming required increased numbers of
workers, which led to the purchase of African slaves to be brought to work Virginian fields. The late
17th century brought many thousands of Germans and Scotch-Irish settlers to Virginia via the English
Toleration Act of 1689, thereby adding more distinct cultures to Virginia's melting pot.
The 18th century witnessed increased separation of Virginia from Great Britain, culturally and
politically. Virginia, along with the other Thirteen Colonies, entered into Revolution against the
mother country. Virginia played a vital role in providing many leaders for the United States,
beginning with the first President George Washington. By 1800, poor farming practices led to the
collapse of Virginia's agricultural economy, and many Virginians left for points south or west. The
Virginian example of slavery spread throughout the South, and the friction between the North and the
South led to the American Civil War in the 1860s. As Richmond became the Confederate capital, so
close in proximity to Washington, D.C., Virginia became the site of more Civil War battles than
anywhere else. Eventually the North won the Civil War, and the period of Reconstruction was ushered
in. African Americans were granted the right to vote after this period ended. Sadly, the African
Americans, in addition to poor whites, were disfranchised in the early 20th century due to Confederate
veterans gaining control of politics in the state.
Technological advancements and the Industrial Revolution all played a part in the change of Virginia
from a plantation locale to a more industrial state. The 20th century brought the first World War,
after which a migration of African Americans away from the state to northern cities occurred. World
War II brought about a tremendous surge in defense buildup in Virginia, which thrived from the
shipbuilding and military installations along its coast, its munitions industries inland, and its
proximity to Washington, D.C.; many federal jobs resulted from these strategic industries. The postwar
era brought about major changes in Virginia; agriculture became mechanized and service industries were
born. Civil rights and women's movements began to take shape.
As the 21st century unfolds, Virginia shows its continued evolution from a rich history full of
challenges and advancements at every turn. Virginia was the birthplace of eight men who became
Presidents of the United States. Virginia seems assured to continue its promise as a center for
technological and research innovation for the future.
Many famous individuals have called the Old Dominion their home. These include U.S. Presidents
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler,
Zachary Taylor, and Thomas Woodrow Wilson; statesmen Patrick Henry and Henry Clay; explorers William
Clark and Meriwether Lewis; actors Richard Arlen, Warren Beatty, Joseph Cotton, Shirley MacLaine, John
Payne, and George C. Scott; author Willa Cather; artist George Bingham; singers Pearl Bailey and Ella
Fitzgerald; polar explorer Richard E. Byrd; Confederate General Robert E. Lee; inventors Cyrus Hall
McCormick and James E. West; Powhatan leader Opechancanough; educator Booker T. Washington; and
numerous others.
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