Many places and events intrigue us in many ways. Especially by the impact, they impose upon us as individuals. In this view, one can be affected either through the history of a place or even the events that transpired to make the place memorable. Events that hold history always make the place in which the event took place famous. Of particular interest to me is the place in which I reside. I am a Virginia resident and it is interesting to know more of the state since it holds vast memories for many people.
Virginia is known to have had one of the bloodiest wars in history; it is also known to have had one of the worst slave trade codes in the history of the slave trade. Therefore, it is only fair that we look at how these events have changed the community’s way of living including the governance of the state.
This state is known as the commonwealth of Virginia and holds a lot of memories for many, especially after the revelation that most of the U.S presidents have come from this state. The exact number is 8 presidents including president Thomas Jefferson and the first president of the united states of America, President George Washington.
Thus, it could be established that the name provided to it as the mother of united states presidents is in order. This gives the state a great edge over all other states in terms of popularity and also contributes immensely to its history.
This state is positioned in the south of the US and it is a hilly terrain, the Virginia beach provides the state with a rich breeze from the sea.
Moreover, it has a beach (Virginia beach) which is said to be the most populated town in the state, and in light of this, it makes Virginia an ethical mix of races including both the majority and minority groups. As I discovered, this was a result of the many civil wars that took place in this state.
Virginia’s history dates back to the 17th century after the British colony founded the colony of Virginia (Raby 2010). The politics witnessed in this state were fierce and most of this was in direct relation to the slave trade that was prevailing in that era. Also, the land was a major factor in influencing the state’s politics. However, the fact that the Virginia state took part in the American civil war was by far the greatest event the state will be remembered for. Virginia residents took it upon themselves to partake in the confederacy and also participated in the American civil war.
The slave trade however was the biggest player in Virginias’ politics. It was the Virginia slave trade code of 1705 which holds the largest chunk of memories to most people in the United States.
In my experience, slavery changed America’s history forever since the respect for the minority group has grown ever since. It has been witnessed in many parts of the united states of America whereby there have been instances of racism.
Racism is a huge vice and should be shunned by all means possible. In Virginia, the locals interact within the interracial boundaries as opposed to segregating themselves to these clusters of ethnicity. It is only by doing away with this monster called racism that America has prospered to where it is.
The economic background of the state of Virginia is and has always been plantation which ensures that we have food on our tables and everything else that comes with it. I cherish the hard work the people of Virginia have put into establishing their independence and not depending on other states in America for assistance both financially and politically. This is because the people in this state have the feeling of oneness, therefore, working together to produce their workmen. This in turn has translated to a workforce that can support the state within its boundaries. I have come to adore this fact as a result of the hard work I am also obliged to do.
Having lived in Virginia for a while, I have witnessed a culture that is as strong as the people who live in this state. The picturesque tradition and the great terrain are always welcoming to its visitors. My cousins came over to visit last holiday and they had to extend their visit having fallen in love with the place. Of particular interest to them were the beach and the parks which they all got to visit. The Shenandoah national park holds great value to the Virginians due to its value streams and the thick forest in the park.
My relatives enjoyed the park and most importantly, the view of the Allegheny mountains in our state. The visit was meant as an educational tour for my younger cousins and it was an experience for them since they learned about the history of the state in a very practical way.
As a way of making my cousins learn the background of the state. Everyone in our family took part in taking them out and it was fun for everyone. I in particular enjoyed the outings the most even though I have lived in the state almost all my life. I found the drive through the park entertaining as well as educative since I had not had the chance to explore it fully. This gave me the chance to have a look at Virginia from a tourist destination perspective. Although It did not resemble any of the African parks we see on national geographic and other programs, it was quite an experience for most of us.
The Shenandoah national park boasts of being one of the largest parks averaging over 80hactares. This means that one can visit it for a hike, camping trip, and other amenities. However, the most attractive site of the Shenandoah is its valley-the Shenandoah valley. The depth of the valley is intriguing and stretches far and wide for the greater part of the park.
Other sites that we took our cousins to see were the town of Virginia and I realized that the Chesapeake bay bridge-tunnel was a marvel. It had never occurred to me that such an architectural maze could have been made such a long time ago like that. It is a complex mix of bridges and tunnels which have been designed to provide interconnectivity of two townscapes Charles and Norfolk.
My cousins enjoyed the trip inside the tunnels more than I did since I was a frequenter. However, it was interesting to see how intrigued they were at the tunnels, their innocent questions made me smile with gratitude as I savored every moment explaining to them the importance of the bridge and tunnels.
The trip made me reminisce about the good old days when I was young and My parents used to take me to the park. However, I was not as active as my younger cousins were. Therefore I deserved to get a second chance to visit this great state.
I came to learn later that the ethnic ratio of the state was largely African American and it was as a result of the slave trade which was prevalent in the 17th century.
This meant that almost 20% of the population was African American according to the United States census bureau (2000). This meant that the slave trade was a serious business in the state. Most of the slaves were taken to work on the plantations which were largely occupied by the white farmers. They saw the slaves as properties and hence there were markets for the slaves. At some point in 1705, there were established slave codes that attributed the slaves to property under the direct control of the master.
However, “the code did not only include the Africans but also included other races including the Indians and mutates” (Slavery and the Making of America 1705).
However, as time progressed, the slaves began to know of their rights, and eventually, they got recognition as human beings. Therefore, the fact that Virginia is a highly cosmopolitan area is regarded as the best quality that the state holds.
Finally, Virginia as a state has had numerous developments and many who were here a few years ago and went away, come back to find only a few memorable things. The only good thing with the state is that there is ample peace and tranquility among the residents of this state. I cherish Virginia for having upheld this daunting task of maintaining peace despite all the racial differences and ethnic disparities. Therefore, anybody willing to go for a trip outside his state or county would be most welcome in Virginia to witness a mix of races and cultures whereby they interact with each other harmoniously.
References
Raby, John. (2010). Virginia Sees Another Decade of Double-Digit Growth. Virginia: Associated Press. Print.
Slavery and the Making of America. (1705). Racial Oppression is Law. New York: Thirteen/WNET.
U. S. Census Bureau. (2000). Census 2000. Virginia: QT-P13. Ancestry: 2000.