The bulk of this volume describes the development of the various institutions of governance in Virginia, the men who helped to establish them, and the political tensions which existed within this royal colony from 1607 to 1700. Woven into Wertenbaker's tapestry, or course, are descriptions of the great controversies of the 17th century--Bacon's Rebellion, clashes with the Indian population, and the impact of the Glorious Revolution in Virginia. Complete with an essay on sources, this is an excellent introduction to the political concerns of the Virginia Colony in the 17th century