Answer:
b) Tobacco
Explanation:
After the harsh winters in Jamestown, John Rolfe discovered tobacco as a lucrative cash crop that led to increased investments in the colony. Tobacco cultivation proved to be well-suited to the climate and soil conditions in Virginia, particularly in the Tidewater region where Jamestown was located. Rolfe, an English settler and tobacco planter, is credited with successfully cultivating a milder strain of tobacco known as Nicotiana tabacum, which became highly profitable in European markets.
The cultivation of tobacco in Jamestown led to a significant economic boom for the colony. It became the primary source of income for many settlers and provided a reliable means of generating wealth. The success of tobacco cultivation attracted more settlers to Virginia and encouraged further investment in the colony's infrastructure, such as the expansion of plantations and the development of shipping ports for tobacco exports.
As a result, tobacco became the foundation of Virginia's economy and played a pivotal role in the colony's survival and growth. The discovery of tobacco as a profitable crop by John Rolfe ultimately led to increased investments in Jamestown and contributed to the long-term prosperity of the Virginia colony.
