The Portuguese were the first colonialists to establish sugar cane plantations on islands off the coast of Africa. The first cane plantations were established on the islands of Madiera and Sao Tomes. Sao Tomes was known as the largest sugar cane producer in the world and its economy grew to be one of the largest in the world
. Because sugar cane farming was and still is, a labor-intensive process, the Portuguese began importing large numbers of African slaves to the island of Sao Tomes.<span>
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The beginning of the Seven Year's War worsened relations between Native Americans and white settlers in the Pennsylvania backcountry. Scarouyady, was an Oneida leader who wished to maintain harmony. In contrast, Pontiac criticized Europeans saying Indians were not slaves of Europeans. Pontiac expressed that Indians were injured by Europeans. They lost their lands, cultures and customs because Europeans gave Native Americans guns and knives.
West Virginia's leading industry, coal, underwent wrenching changes. In the early stages of the Depression, the industry suffered from a virtual collapse as mining companies failed and unemployment grew, leaving once busy coal camps idle and stranding thousands of miners and their families.
Negative environmental impacts from unsustainable farming practices include: Land conversion & habitat loss. Wasteful water consumption. Soil erosion and degradation.