The English Colonies

Roanoke First attempt at an English Settlement 100 men went in 1585 and landed in modern day North Carolina Colonist ran low on supplies and fought with neighboring Native Americans 1590, John White went to Roanoke and the settlement was empty Is now known as “The Lost Colony”

Jamestown Was the first successful English colony. Named after King James I Founded by John Smith in 1607 Was an attempt to find Gold in North America

Charter Virginia Company received a Charter from King James I Charter is a legal document giving certain rights to a person or company This charter gave the Virginia Company the right to settle in the New World. Also guaranteed those who settled in Virginia would have the same rights as the English Citizens

Settlement Located along the James River Swampy area with unhealthy water. Surrounded by the Algonquian tribe, known as the Powhatan Confederacy. Many colonists died within the first 5 years Died from diseases (Malaria and Yellow Fever) Died from Indian attacks and many starved to death

Economy Tobacco – Main crop Many people wanted to come to Jamestown to make money Indentured Servants –people who agreed to work without wages for a period of time in exchange for passage to the colonies

Government Settlers in Virginia created a representative government called the House of Burgesses. Voters elected representatives to make laws. The idea came from the Magna Carta. A British document which said the Monarch had to obey the laws and citizens have basic rights.

Plymouth Colony In 1620, the Pilgrims sailed for America. They came searching for religious freedom, or the ability to practice their religion freely. The Landed at Cape Cod, Massachusetts. (They meant to land in Virginia.) They set up the Mayflower Compact. This agreement established the rules for how the colony would be governed.