Virginia and the Amazonian Alternative

Abstract

This chapter considers 1619 Virginia alongside contemporary efforts to colonize the Guianas. Though 1619 was a momentous year for Virginia, it is only in hindsight that we can recognize its importance. The 1619 charter for the Amazon Company demonstrates the appeal of contemporary alternatives. From the early seventeenth century, South American colonization schemes competed with those to the north. Many colonial enthusiasts argued that surer riches would be found closer to the Iberian empires. Building upon the explorations of Walter Ralegh, colonists there forged long-lasting indigenous alliances that were held as an ideal for the rest of the century. Guiana settlers and promoters also embraced tobacco as a viable export commodity at a time when the Virginia Company was admonishing its colonists for growing it. Yet, the Guiana settlements also provoked the protest of Spanish diplomats. The ultimate failure of the Amazon Company redirected investments and enthusiasm towards Virginia and other English settlements.