England’s First Colonies Chapter 3, Section 1

“The land yields…(an) abundance of fish, infinite store (endless supply) of deer, and hares, with many fruits and roots…There are hills and mountains making a sensible (offer) of hidden treasure, never yet searched”

England Seeks Colonies English King shares power with Parliament (lawmaking body) England begins to establish colonies in late 1500s Market for goods Raw materials for England

Who wanted to go to the colonies? People suffering economic hardship Production of wool left tenant farmers without land Unemployment and population on the rise in England

Roanoke First English attempt at colonies 1 st colony: Sir Walter Raleigh, ends up starving and is rescued by Francis Drake 2 nd colony: John White, establishes colony and returns to England Delayed, and returns 3 years later All settlers gone CROATOAN

The Virginia Company of London Joint stock company Printed advertisements to encourage settlers 650 investors Virginia Company’s charter granted by King James I

Jamestown 1607 Three ships arrive at Jamestown 105 male colonists Sail into Chesapeake Bay and up James River Named colony after King James

Problems… -Most colonists only want to search for treasure -Few have farming or carpentry skills -Poor site for settlement: swamp, salty water, mosquitoes -1608: 38 out of 100 still alive

Captain John Smith Sent to lead colony in 1608 Military Experience Forces settlers to plant crops and build better housing “He who works not, eats not.”

Powhatan Confederacy Alliance of Algonquian Indians Sometimes bring colonists food Teach colonists to grow corn At times colonists steal food, not peaceful relationship Starving time: Smith leaves around 1609 Summer of 1610 = 60 colonists 1611 New settlers arrive

Tobacco The “gold” of Jamestown Grows well in Virginia John Rolfe introduces West Indian variety

War in Virginia Conflict with colonists and Powhatan John Rolfe creates temporary peace by marrying Pocahontas (Powhatan leader’s daughter Pocahontas and her father die Fighting lasts for 20 years In 1646 war ends when colonists kill Powhatan leader London Company unable to help colonists English crown cancels charter Virginia becomes royal colony under a governor appointed by the King

House of Burgesses Representative government Lawmaking body for Virginia Pass laws and set taxes Shares power with governor who could veto acts

Africans come to Virginia Dutch ships brings slaves from West Indies Sold to Virginia colonists Had ability to earn freedom after working a certain number of years

The Pilgrims Separatists: wanted to separate from Church of England 1 st move to Holland Decide to leave and move to Virginia Pilgrim: person on a religious journey

The Mayflower Compact Sail aboard the Mayflower Storms blow them off course and they land in Massachusetts Name their new home Plymouth Sign Mayflower Compact because they had blown off course

Thanksgiving Pilgrims had a difficult first winter, half the colonists die In spring receive help from Native Americans Squanto: brings seeds and teaches Pilgrims to plant, teaches them to fish Set aside a day to celebrate harvest: Thanksgiving