War and RebellionĮxcept for occasional scares and the depression of trade, England's numerous wars with France, Spain and Holland did not greatly affect the sparsely populated Virginia colony. In fact, most Virginians remained loyal to the monarchy during Cromwell 's rule (one reason why so many latter-day Virginians would claim descent from the Cavaliers). Even the period of the English Civil War and the Commonwealth (1642-1660), which shook England to its foundations, left the Old Dominion relatively unscathed. As a royal colony after 1624, Virginia generally enjoyed benign neglect, except with regard to the collection of the King's revenues. It was far from universal suffrage, however, as women, African slaves and landless whites had no say in politics. Complaints of restrictive rule by the Virginia Company led to the Company's 1618 approval of a Charter of Grants and Liberties, which made the colony's government subject to the popular will as expressed through a representative legislature, the House of Burgesses. Virginia grew increasingly self-governing. At such a distance on a sparsely settled continent however, its interests and development quickly diverged from those of its mother country. 1699: Virginia capital moved to WilliamsburgĪs a colony, Virginia's early history was inextricably tied to events in Great Britain.1693: College of William and Mary founded.1690: John Locke’s Treatises on Civil Government published.1678: John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress published.1675-76: Virginia war with Susquehannock Indians.1667: John Milton’s Paradise Lost published.1653: Oliver Cromwell named “Lord Protector”.1647: George Fox, founder of the Society of Friends, begins ministry.1622: Indian attacks all along the James River valley.1619: First African slaves brought to Jamestown.
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