First Permanent English Colony in America Jamestown First Permanent English Colony in America

How were colonies created? Permission to settle had to be given by the king - James I Charters were given to merchants (businessmen) A charter is the right to organize settlements in an area

The Virginia Company Received a charter from James I to settle the area of Virginia The Virginia Company was a joint-stock company Investors bought stock (part ownership) in the company The investors would get back a part of any future profits

Discussion Break Who was the king? What is a charter? What is a joint-stock company? What company started Jamestown?

The Voyage December, 1606 144 settlers in 3 ships (Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery) Supposed to look for gold and establish trade in fish and furs 40 died during the voyage

Susan Constant Discovery Godspeed

Arrival April, 1607 - ships enter Chesapeake Bay and sailed up the James River Built Jamestown on a peninsula Pro: Could be defended from attack Con: Swampy land had mosquitoes that carried disease Con: No good farmland Many not accustomed to hard labor Spent time looking for gold and silver, rather than growing food By spring of 1608, only 38 original colonists were still alive

Discussion Break What were the names of the ships colonists sailed in to Virginia? Why were the colonists sent? How many died on the voyage? When did they arrive? Where did they settle? What were the pros and cons of this location? How many survived the first year?

Captain John Smith 27 years old Experienced soldier and explorer Forced settlers to work or go hungry Established trade with Chief Powhatan

The Starving Time How bad was it? Winter of 1609-1610 No strong leader Colony could not feed all the people Fighting broke out with Native Americans New arriving settlers found only 60 survivors How bad was it? Settlers ate dogs, cats, & horses Fresh graves were robbed for food One man murdered his wife to eat her

Discussion Break Who was John Smith and why was he important to Jamestown? What was the Starving Time?

Change of Fortunes - Tobacco John Rolfe - Used tobacco seeds from the West Indies to start a new crop First crop sold in England in 1614 Rolfe marries Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan, improving relations Colonists began planting private farms - created competition and harder work Colonists that paid their own way received 100 acres Headright (land grant of 50 acres + 50 acres for each family member over 15 and servants) encouraged thousands to come to Virginia

Discussion Break Who introduced tobacco to Jamestown? How did tobacco help Jamestown? What changed about farming in Jamestown? How did the Virginia Company encourage settlement?

Pocahontas 1595 - Birth of Matoaka, nicknamed Pocahontas (“little plaything"). She is the oldest daughter of the powerful Indian leader, Powhatan. 1607 - She “saves” Captain John Smith from execution. 1612 - Pocahontas captured by the English captain Samuel Argyll. 1613 - Pocahontas converts to Christianity, takes the name Rebekah 1614 - Marries John Rolfe, and their son, Thomas, is born the next year. 1616 - Pocahontas travels to England as the "Indian Princess” 1617 - She dies, and is buried at Gravesend.

The different faces of Pocahontas

Discussion Break Who was Pocahontas and why was she important to Jamestown? Name some key facts about Pocahontas. Give at least five differences between the movies and the real Pocahontas.

First Representative Government Settlers were under strict rules from the Virginia Co. in London 1619 - Co. agreed to let the colonists have some say 10 towns sent 2 representatives called burgesses to an assembly House of Burgesses met to make local laws for the colony

Growth of the Colony 1619 - 90 women sent to Jamestown Men had to pay a fee of 120 pounds of tobacco to marry one of these women Families begin to grow Dutch ship brings first Africans to North America May have been servants, not slaves Worked in tobacco fields Many were free and owned property Slavery was first recognized in the 1660’s

End of the Charter The Virginia Company had invested most of its money into Jamestown with little profit Colony was attacked by Native Americans 1624 - King James canceled their charter and Jamestown becomes the first royal colony for England in America

Native Americans Near Jamestown (13 Colonies p. 22-24) Leader: How do they get food: What do they think about Europeans? Relationship with John Smith:

Discussion Break What was the first representative government in the American colonies? When was it formed? Name a fact about women in Jamestown. Identify key information about the first Africans in America. Key relationships between Woodland Indians and the Europeans.