Setting the Stage Spain discovers the “New World”! 1492 Columbus lands in the Bahamas (not India, like he thought) This is why the Caribbean is also referred to as the West Indies and why indigenous people in the region were called Indians. Spain gets rich and powerful off it its colonies! Other European nations want more wealth and power, so they want to start colonies.

Setting the Stage 1588 England defeats the mighty Spanish Armada freeing other European nations to lay claim to land in the New World. 1584 England attempted to start its first colony. Roanoke, in modern day North Carolina Colony failed and the settlers were forced to return to England. 1587 England sent 150 settlers back to the Roanoke colony. They were led by John White. He returned to England for supplies. While he was there England went to war with Spain. He couldn’t return for 3 years. When he did, he discovered that all of the people in the colony had vanished.

Jamestown Colony

Third Time’s the Charm First successful British colony Located in modern day Virginia, along the James River Established in 1607 with about 125 settlers Founded by the Virginia Company as a money making venture. Colony is named after British King James I

Problems Facing the Settlers Built the colony on the river, as it was in a good defensive position, but the water was brackish (salty) and undrinkable. Area around the colony was marshy and filled with disease carrying mosquitoes. Most of the settlers were looking to get rich quick by finding gold. They were not prepared to plant food and build homes.

John Smith Assumed leadership of the Jamestown Colony. Military background “work or starve” if people didn’t work he didn’t allow them to eat A lot of the settlers were “gentlemen” that were unaccustomed to work. Developed an alliance with Chief Powhatan (father of Pocahontas) which helped keep the settlers from starving. Experienced a mysterious accident, in which his gun powder pouch exploded injuring his leg. He was forced to return to England for treatment. Without him the colony faltered.

The Starving Time 1609 400 more settlers arrive Only 60 survive the winter Relations with the Powhatan falls apart Virginia Company sends a new governor to the colony, Lord De La Warr (Delaware) to straighten things out.

John Rolfe and Tobacco First English settler to grow tobacco. This makes the Jamestown settlement successful for the first time. 1614 marries Pocahontas, improving relations with the Powhatan tribe. Indentured servants are brought to the colony to provide labor. 1619 the first slaves are brought to Jamestown.

House of Burgesses A legislative (law making) body established in 1619 to assist in the governing of the colony. A form of representative government in which the colonist appointed representatives to act on their behalf. Will have a foundational impact on the formation of the American Democratic Republic.

Name: ______________________________ Date: _______________ Period: ___________ Jamestown Questions What was the first English settlement in the Americas? Jamestown is in what modern day state? What happened in Jamestown in the winter of 1609-1610? What crop was introduced by John Rolfe? Who did John Rolfe marry? What were the powers of the House of Burgesses?