Final answer:
The Virginia Company sent more colonists to Virginia to meet the labor needs of the tobacco industry, which had become a profitable venture. They introduced the headright policy to attract laborers and settlers, who were essential for the economic sustainability of the colony.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why the Virginia Company Sent More Colonists
The Virginia Company of London had significant reasons for sending more colonists to Virginia, primarily due to the booming tobacco industry. Initially, the company was focused on finding gold and other resources but continually operated at a loss. However, once tobacco cultivation began in earnest, there was a noticeable potential for profit. The demand for tobacco in Europe was increasing, and the colonists in Virginia began exporting it by 1614, thus finally earning profits for the Virginia Company. To support the labor-intensive process of tobacco cultivation, there was a pressing need for more laborers in the colony. The headright policy was introduced to address this issue, granting land to any person who migrated to Virginia and additional land to anyone who sponsored an immigrant's passage. This policy led to an influx of predominantly young, male indentured servants who sought a new life in the New World, laying the groundwork for what would become the United States. While the tobacco industry provided an opportunity for wealth and success, the colony's survival depended on addressing the labor shortage. Therefore, indentured servitude and the headright system became critical components in supporting the colony's growth and economic stability.