Early Colonies Have Mixed Success

England, an Emerging Power Trading rivalry and religious differences divided England from Spain. Spain= Catholic England= Protestant King Phillip II wants a Catholic ruler to take the throne in England.

Defeat of the Spanish Armada King Phillip II upset with the attacks on Spanish ships and ports by England. Queen Elizabeth supported these attacks. King Phillip sends the worlds BEST navy to conqueror England. English defeat of the armada, marked an end of Spanish control of the seas.

The Lost Colony at Roanoke 1584- Queen Elizabeth gave Sir Walter Raleigh the right to claim land in North America. Raleigh sent men to scout out the perfect place to settle. They returned with a report of the Roanoke Islands (off-coast of North Carolina.)

The Lost Colony at Roanoke cont…. 1585- Raleigh sends about 100 men to settle Roanoke Islands. A harsh Winter sends the men fleeing back to England. 1587- Raleigh tries a second attempt, sending 91 men, 17 women, and 9 children.

The Lost Colony at Roanoke cont…. John White was given command of the colonists. As they expanded, they need more resources. John White returns to England seeking materials and more colonists. War with Spain keeps White in England for almost three years.

The Lost Colony at Roanoke cont…. Upon Whites return three years later, Roanoke was deserted. The only clue to there fate was a world carved into a wooden post, which read “Croatoan.” Roanoke colonists were never seen again!!

The Virginia Company A group of merchants, the Virginia Company of London, received charters to make a settlement in America. The Virginia Company was a joint-stock company. Investors bought small parts of ownership in the company in return for its future profits.

Jamestown December 1606- 3 ships leave England with 144 colonists. April 1607- ships enter Chesapeake Bay, 40 colonists die along voyage. Colonists travel up a river that flowed into the bay, they name this river the James River, in honor of King James I. They construct Jamestown on a peninsula, so they defend themselves from attack. 104 colonists remain.

Jamestown Hardships= swampy land led to mosquitoes which carried diseases. Lack of adequate farmland, led to food shortages, and ultimately death. By 1608, as new ships arrive with more supplies, only 38 of the original colonists remained alive.

Surviving Jamestown The success of Jamestown for the first two years can be thanked to Captain John Smith! To be successful, Smith ordered the colonists to work! Smith established peaceful relations with the local Indian tribe led by Chief Powhatan.

Surviving Jamestown cont… August 1609- 400 new colonists arrive in Jamestown. Two months later, Smith returns to England. Without strong leadership, the colonists could not survive. The Winter of 1609 -1610 became known as “the starving time.” Colonists became desperate and war broke out with the Native Americans. Only 60 colonists remained alive.

Farming the Land With the lack of wealthy jewels such as gold and silver, the colonists needed to find a source of money. John Rolfe was successful in growing a type of tobacco using seeds fro the West Indies. The first American tobacco crop was then sold in England in 1614. Tobacco saved the Virginia colonists!

Relations with the Native Americans Thanks to John Rolfe marrying Chief Powhatan’s daughter Pocahontas, Natives and colonists got along.

Attracting New Colonists Now that Colonists could farm their own land, they made greater efforts to succeed. Private land ownership was expanded in 1618. All Colonists who paid for their own way to America were given 100 acres of land. To attract NEW colonists, the Virginia Company gave a land grant called the headright. 50 acre plots were given out.

Government As the colony grew, the men became dissatisfied with the rules. Creation of the House of Burgesses, where the each town would send two representatives. They would meet and create their own laws for the colony.

House of Burgesses

Labor Africans were brought to Virginia. Some on their own will, others forced. Few were free and owned property Mostly were servants who worked the tobacco fields In time, more and more Africans were brought against their will.