What factors led to the increase use of slave labor in Virginia in the 1600's?

The increase in slave labor in Virginia during the 1600s was driven by several factors, including the expansion of tobacco cultivation, which created a high demand for labor. The decline of indentured servitude, as fewer Europeans were willing to endure the harsh conditions, made slave labor a more attractive and permanent solution for plantation owners. Additionally, the legal codification of racial slavery in Virginia, starting in the mid-1660s, provided a framework that facilitated and justified the enslavement of Africans. Together, these factors established a system that relied heavily on enslaved labor for economic prosperity.