Though the
headright system promised heaven to the immigrants, it turned out to work to
the advantage of the existing settlers who were commonly known as the planters.
With the high shortage of labor, the settlers promised to pay those who
migrated to Virginia to work for them. The payment was in form of 50 acres of
land for those who successfully managed to work for 2 to 7 years as per the
agreement.
The system
benefited the planters in such that it enabled them to multiply their
landholdings and increase their wealth
with the help of the free labor from the immigrants. Their multiplied wealthy
and landholdings come from the mere fact that not many of the immigrants
managed to live to see their dues being paid. For the few who managed to make
it, they were awarded unproductive lands in the mountainous areas where they were
to deal with threats from the Indians.
