Virginia's elite refers to the wealthy and influential individuals who held power and social status within colonial Virginia. They often owned large plantations, controlled the economy, and held political positions.
Related terms
Indentured servants: These were individuals who willingly entered into a contract to work for a certain number of years in exchange for passage to America or other benefits.
Plantation system: This refers to an agricultural system in which large farms (plantations) produced cash crops such as tobacco using slave labor.
Social hierarchy: This describes the ranking or organization of society based on social classes, with elites at the top and lower classes at the bottom.