1. THE FIRST ENGLISH COLONIES

2.  Pocahontas, the daughter of Chief Powhatan, was a 12 yr. old Indian girl who saved the life of Captain John Smith.  She brought food to the settlers of Jamestown and helped them survive the winter of 1607.  Pocahontas married John Rolfe, a colonist who exported tobacco. For a few years the English settlers and the Indians lived together without conflict.

3.  1. An economic revolution had created wealthy landowners who wanted a place to invest. The economic revolution also uprooted small farmers who needed new lands to farm.  Invest-to use money to help a business start or grow, with the hope of earning a profit.  Example-Jamestown Colony 1607 (Virginia)

4.  2. Religious conflict was the second reason for establishing English interest in colonies. Both Catholics and Protestants looked for religious freedom in America.  Example- The Plymouth Colony 1620 ( Massachusetts) founded by the Pilgrims

5.  In 1607, the first colony was Jamestown founded in Virginia as a joint stock company by the Virginia Company of London.  The Jamestown settlers looked for gold and silver but were not successful. The Jamestown settlers struggled, even after they grew tobacco for export.  Joint stock company-a business that raised money by selling shares called stocks to investors.  Exports-goods sent out of one country to sell in another

6.  In order to get to Virginia, poor people agreed to become indentured servants.  Indentured servants-they signed contracts agreeing to work four to seven years without pay for the person who paid their passage.

9.  In 1619, Virginia took a step toward self government. Adult male landowners elected representatives to a legislature called the House of Burgesses.  Representatives- people chosen to speak and act in government for their fellow citizens  legislature-a group of people chosen to make laws

10.  Burgesses- in Virginia, representatives were called Burgesses.  In 1624, King James I made Virginia a royal colony.  Royal colony- the king appointed the governor and the council of advisors

11.  In 1620, the Puritans a.k.a. Pilgrims started the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. The Pilgrims came over on a ship called the Mayflower and “landed” on Plymouth Rock.

16.  The Pilgrims signed an agreement called the Mayflower Compact. It allowed signers to agree to make laws ” for the general good of the colony unto which we promise all due obedience”. Dated November 21, 1620.

18.  Puritans- some English Protestants thought the Church of England was too much like the Catholic Church. These people were called Puritans because they believed in simpler, “purer” forms of worship.  Pilgrims-got their name from the word pilgrimage. Pilgrimage- a religious journey