Who were the "First Families of Virginia" (FFVs)?

The "First Families of Virginia" (FFVs) refers to the elite planter families who were part of the social and political elite of Virginia during the colonial period. These families often had established wealth through the cultivation of tobacco and other cash crops, which were critical to the economy of the region. The FFVs were influential not only in agriculture but also held significant political power, often serving in the colonial legislature and later in the United States government. Their prominence contributed to the development of Southern social hierarchies and the system of plantation agriculture characteristic of the region.

The incorrect options present groups that were either not part of this elite class or had different roles in the colonial community. Merchant families from New England, for example, were more involved in trade and commerce, while enslaved families were subjected to servitude on these plantations and did not hold social status. Colonial governors and officials, while having authority in governance, were not necessarily from the families recognized as the first families of Virginia, as many were appointed from outside Virginia or were part of a different social structure.