Colonial Virginia was one of the first English settlements in North America, established in 1607 with the founding of Jamestown. It became a key part of the Thirteen Colonies and played a significant role in early American history. The economy was primarily based on agriculture, with tobacco as the main cash crop, which led to the growth of plantations. The colony was governed by a system that included a House of Burgesses, the first elected legislative assembly in America. Colonial Virginia was also marked by the use of enslaved labor, which became integral to its agricultural economy and social structure.