The Founding of Jamestown

The English Tradition England was a monarchy limited by a lawmaking body called Parliament English law limited the king’s power English law guaranteed the right to trial by jury Parliament had to approve taxes

England Seeks Colonies England began to set up colonies in North America in the late 1500s Roanoke colony is established in 1585, but then abandoned England tries one more time in Roanoke in By 1590, the colony mysteriously disappeared

Founding Jamestown In 1607, a group of wealthy people formed the Virginia Company of London They want to permanently settle in North America, looking for: – Gold or silver – Trade with Native Americans – Raw materials (grapes, mulberry trees, lumber)

Founding Jamestown England’s King James I grants the company a charter In 1607, 100 men build a fort in Chesapeake Bay, establishing the first permanent settlement: Jamestown

Jamestown, 1607

On the Brink of Failure Jamestown almost fails in it’s first year, why?: – Colonists caught diseases (malaria) – English “Gentlemen” have no intention to work Local Native Americans supplied some food to the colonists to survive

John Smith and the “Starving Time” By 1608, 38 colonists were all that remained John Smith is sent from London to take control Sets the important rule: “He who works not, eats not.” Jamestown prospers, but Smith is sent back to England, initiating the “Starving Time” in the colony

Tobacco Saves Jamestown Tobacco saves Jamestown and becomes very profitable John Rolfe introduces a particular breed of tobacco he somehow found in South America Virginia becomes stable enough to create a society with a government

The House of Burgesses In 1619, Virginia creates a law making body called the House of Burgesses The house is a representative democracy The house marked the start of representative government in North America

The House of Burgesses

Africans Come to Virginia In 1619, a Dutch ship arrives in Virginia and sells 20 slaves to the colonists in Jamestown Slaves did not necessarily serve for life, but could earn their freedom Permanent slavery is not established in Virginia until the late 1600s