3.1 Roanoke & Jamestown

The Mystery of Roanoke Sir Francis Drake (English Pirate) steals Spanish treasure when in route to America Queen Elizabeth gave Sir Walter Raleigh the right to claim land I North America Sir Raleigh’s scouts discovered Roanoke Island (off the coast of today’s North Carolina – Sir Raleigh called it “Virginia” instead of North Carolina) Sir Raleigh sent settlers twice 1st time in 1585; John White drew pics of land/Native Americans; difficult winter sent them back to England 2nd time in 1587; John White led the group; Virginia Dare (John White’s granddaughter) was 1st born English child in North America White went back to England to get supplies but war between Spain and England delayed his return to North America When White returned to North America, Roanoke Island was deserted. The word “Croatoan” was carved into a tree. White wasn’t able to investigate Croatoan located 50 miles south because of bad weather. Roanoke Island colonists were never seen again.

Success @ Jamestown Roanoke Island failures discouraged English settlers 1606 England King James I distributed charters to restart the colonization in North America The Virginia Company: Joint-stock company Plan: company’s settlers would find gold and establish trade in fish/furs King James I gave charter to the Virginia Co in Dec. 1606 April 1607 they sailed up the Chesapeake Bay and named the river James; they named the town Jamestown

Success @ Jamestown continued.. Jamestown Survives: No gold/riches in Virginia; faced disease/hunger instead Captain Smith forced settlers to work which helped them survive for the first 2 years; he also built ties with the Powhatan people Captain Smith injured & sent back to England  Powhatan stopped providing food  colony struggled 1609-1610 Jamestown survives!!  Jamestown grows tobacco (cash crop) to pay investors

Success @ Jamestown continued.. More Settlers Come to Virginia Relations with Powhatan improve – John Rolfe married the chief’s daughter Pocahontas  (marriage/children are now a normal part of life) Virginia Company starts giving a headright (land grant of 50 acres to those that paid there way to the colony) Headright system helps colony succeed!! Opportunity to own land encouraged settlers to come to Virginia and work hard Virginia company gives settlers right to take part in their own gov’t 1619 land-owning male colonists held ballots for burgesses to establish laws for the colony House of Burgesses was 1st legislature in North America elected by the people Virginia is growing but not making enough money for the Virginia Company to survive! 164 King James took the company’s charter  Virginia becomes a royal colony