Final answer:
The change in perception of tobacco brought by Francis Drake's transport of the 'jovial weed' in 1586 had a significant impact on English planters in Virginia, allowing them to satisfy the growing demand for tobacco by attracting indentured servants and immigrants to work on plantations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The change in the perception of tobacco brought about by Francis Drake's transport of the 'jovial weed' in 1586 had a significant impact on the English planters in Virginia. The growing demand for tobacco allowed them to capitalize on this new market and increase their wealth and status. With the promise of land and potential profits, ambitious planters were able to attract indentured servants and immigrants to work on their tobacco plantations through the 'headright policy'. This labor-intensive crop became the golden resource the Virginia Company had desired, saving Virginia from ruin and incentivizing further colonization.