The Jamestown Colony

for English colonization What were the reasons for English colonization in America?

Some European countries, including England, were in competition to increase their wealth and power by expanding their empires to America.

England wanted to establish an American colony to increase her wealth and power.

England hoped to find gold and silver in America, as the Spanish had done in Mexico and South America.

Jamestown was founded in 1607 as an economic venture. What are these people doing? Where are they? What year is it?

An American settlement would furnish raw materials that could not be grown or obtained in England. What raw materials do you see here?

An American settlement would open new markets for trade.

An American settlement would open new markets for trade. Sewing with needles from England England needed raw materials, such as lumber and tobacco. Virginia needed manufactured goods, such as furniture, tools, needles, and muskets.

Jamestown was established (started) by the Virginia Company of London as an economic venture. The Virginia Company hoped to make a huge profit on their investment. Coat of arms of the Virginia Company of London

The Virginia Company was a group of people who got others to invest their money. Seal of the Virginia Company

After the Jamestown settlement made money, the investors were supposed to get a profit from their money.

Where is Jamestown located?

When the settlers chose the location in 1607, Jamestown was located on a narrow peninsula bordered on three sides by the James River. the peninsula the James River

The location could be easily defended from attack by sea The location could be easily defended from attack by sea. The English feared a sea attack by the Spanish.

The water along the shore was deep enough for ships to dock. harbor

The English believed they had a good supply of fresh water.

The King of England granted charters to the Virginia Company of London. London in the 1600s

The charters gave the Virginia Company the right to establish a settlement in North America.

The first charter of the Virginia Company of London established companies to begin colonies in the New World.

The Houses of Parliament, where English laws were made The charters extended English rights to the colonists. The Capitol at Williamsburg, where the House of Burgesses met to make Virginia’s laws The Houses of Parliament, where English laws were made

As Jamestown grew, the system of government evolved.

In 1619, the governor of Virginia called a meeting of the Virginia Assembly. The Assembly included two citizen representatives, called “burgesses.”

The burgesses came from each of the divisions of Virginia.

The Assembly also included the governor’s council and the governor. John Smith was an early governor of Virginia.

At that time, only adult men were considered citizens.

By the 1640s, the burgesses became a separate legislative body, called the Virginia House of Burgesses. Patrick Henry speaks in the Virginia House of Burgesses.

The government of the Virginia colony was based on the English model of a representative government. This is the church in Jamestown where the House of Burgesses first met.

The House of Burgesses was modeled after the English Parliament.

The House of Burgesses was the first elected legislative body in America, giving settlers the opportunity to control their own government. This is an old engraving showing colonial Virginia men voting.

Today it is called the General Assembly and is the oldest legislative body in the western hemisphere. An 1800s drawing of the General Assembly building in Richmond

The House of Burgesses became the Virginia General Assembly, which continues to this day. the state capitol building in Richmond, where the Virginia General Assembly meets to make our laws

In 1620, the Virginia Company of London sent a ship with 90 young women to Jamestown. A man who wanted to marry one of these women, had to pay 120 pounds of tobacco to the ship’s captain for her trip to Jamestown.

The arrival of women in 1620 made it possible for the settlers to establish families and a more permanent settlement at Jamestown. 1600s drawings of children at play

Africans arrived in Jamestown against their will Africans arrived in Jamestown against their will. It is believed that they arrived as baptized Christians and therefore were labeled indentured servants for a period of 5 to 7 years.

But Virginia planters soon saw that they would need a cheap supply of labor for a long time. Tidewater plantations were expanding because people could make so much money from tobacco.

The arrival of Africans made it possible to expand the tobacco economy.

The Powhatan people and the English settlers at Jamestown established trading relationships and for a while had positive interactions. 1600s drawing of a Powhatan village

Captain John Smith initiated (started) trading relationships with the Powhatans.

The Powhatans traded food, furs, and leather with the English in exchange for tools, pots, guns, and other goods. Powhatan shelter and cooking fire at Jamestown

Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan, believed the English and American Indians (First Americans) could live in harmony. different portraits of Pocahontas

building a dugout canoe Pocahontas began a friendship with the colonists that helped them survive. Powhatan Indian building a dugout canoe

The Powhatans introduced new crops to the English, including corn and tobacco.

The Powhatans saw the colonists as invaders that would take over their land. armour from the 1600s cannon at Jamestown fort

The English brought with them English laws and customs, which were influenced by their relationship with the Powhatans.

The English also began the terrible institution of slavery in Virginia, which lasted a long time, because of its dependence on a tobacco economy.

But Virginia grew into a culture very different from that of England, because of the influence of Africans and the Powhatan.