Which colony had a significant focus on tobacco as a cash crop?

Virginia had a significant focus on tobacco as a cash crop, which played a central role in its economy and development during the colonial period. The colony, established in 1607, became a leading producer of tobacco due to its favorable climate and soil conditions, which allowed for extensive cultivation. Tobacco farming quickly became highly profitable, leading to increased demand for land and labor, which, in turn, fueled the growth of the plantation system and reliance on enslaved labor.

The success of tobacco not only transformed the economy of Virginia but also impacted social structures and relationships with Indigenous peoples, as colonists pushed further into territories to acquire land for cultivation. This created lasting economic patterns and social dynamics that defined Virginia and laid the groundwork for future agricultural economies in the southern colonies.