Question

What was the catalyst in ushering in outside influences that Virginia politicians were unable to control, effectively negating Virginia’s traditional self-sufficiency?

Answer 1

The outside influences that Virginia politicians could not control were precipitated by economic changes like the tobacco industry boom and the Readjuster movement led by William Mahone, as well as the introduction of slavery laws which altered the colony's labor structure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The catalyst that ushered in outside influences Virginia politicians were unable to control, thus negating Virginia’s traditional self-sufficiency, was largely economic in nature. The growth of the tobacco industry, which saved Virginia from ruin and incentivized colonization, played a significant role in this process.

Merchants, traders, and settlers were drawn to Virginia, altering its labor and social structures. The Readjuster movement led by William Mahone in the 1880s, which amalgamated poor whites and blacks against the control of the planter elite, further exemplified the diminishing grip of Virginia's traditional political elite.

Additionally, the introduction of slavery laws in the 1660s, legislated distinctions in racial hierarchies, and Virginia's cumbersome debt post-Civil War played crucial roles in integrating Virginia into a larger economic and political landscape that its politicians could not solely govern.