1600-1800s

  • first african slaves

    The first African slaves were brought to Virginia in 1619
  • Indian Corn improvement

    Beginning in 1620, the first settlers planted barley and peas from England but their most important crop was Indian corn(maize).
  • Wool

    King William the lll made a tax on wool which made wool production go down
  • selective breeding

    Selectively breeding livestock, systematic crop rotation, and the develop of chemical fertilizers began in the 1700's
  • Population and productivity

    in 1790 the population was only 3,929,214 in the US and farmers made up about 90% of the workforce.
  • Public land act

    The public land act authorized federal land sales to the public in minimum 640-acre plots for $2 per acre. This allowed for farmers to grow more crops.
  • Exports

    New technologies and transportations allowed for easier selling of crops resulting in more profit.