Jamestown What was the first permanent English settlement? Who founded it and why? Jamestown (in Virginia) Started by the Virginia Company – to make money

Jamestown - Motivations Why did most men come to Jamestown? Money and Land! Laws of Primogeniture: English laws that said only the first born sons could get land from their fathers. Made “other” sons desperate Poor economic conditions and land shortages in England

Jamestown What problems did Jamestown have? Wanted to find gold and get rich quick Not used to hard work Arguing and fighting Location = swamp and bad water Far from home Mosquitoes and malaria Powhatan Indians wary and not helpful

Jamestown - Government What was the House of Burgesses Why was it important? Representative assembly in Virginia based on Parliament Attracted people to Virginia = just as free there as in England Importance = Precedent (example) for all other colonies Colonies would govern themselves Have the same rights as people in England

Jamestown Success #1 Why did Jamestown succeed? Leadership of John Smith: a soldier and explorer took control of the settlement. Installed military discipline = work for food. Established a relationship with the Powhatan. Negotiated for corn and helped keep the peace

Jamestown Success #2 Why was Jamestown successful? Tobacco and Environment: very good (soil) John Rolfe brought in tobacco (cash crop). Brought in the money that the VA Company needed More people desperate for money will move there Importance: Motivation of money and the environment led to - Plantation style farming and slavery in the South

Jamestown Success #3 Why was Jamestown successful? Peace with the natives John Rolfe married Pocahontas (Indian princess). Natives began to help the English Importance = time to grow

Success #4 Why was Jamestown successful? Successful Government House of Burgesses, Representative Government, and the charter Colonists would govern themselves and expect the same rights as people in England

Jamestown Why so important? Environment led to plantation slavery in the Southern Colonies Motivation of money became a part of the culture. Representative Government and rights of Englishmen for colonists would lead to problems with the English government in the future. Success leads to growth of the Southern Colonies

Plymouth What was Plymouth? Who founded it? 2nd permanent English settlement (1620). Settled by Pilgrims who traveled on the Mayflower.

Plymouth Protestants from England. Wanted to reform the Church of England by making it less Catholic (making it simpler) Wanted to separate from the Church of England (separatists). Persecuted (treated unfairly) for their beliefs in England In 1620 won a charter to start a new settlement in Virginia Who were the Puritan Pilgrims?

Plymouth (and New England) Why did people come to Plymouth? On a religious mission = start a colony based on their beliefs. Wanted religious freedom.

Plymouth Agreement that stated that they would have a government and follow its rules. Precedent for written limits to government power (like a constitution) What was the Mayflower Compact? Why was it important?

Plymouth Success The people at Plymouth were hard workers. Local natives helped the settlers learn how to farm and survive the harsh weather. Government and religion provided order. Why was the settlement successful?

Importance #1 Religion = motivation of religion and the belief that “we are closest to god” became an important part of American culture. Religious freedom: Pilgrims allowed it in Plymouth = tradition for the future Why was Plymouth important?

Importance #2 Why was Plymouth important? The first Thanksgiving We still celebrate the coming together of the settlers and the Indians each November. It is a religious based feast that has become a national holiday

Importance #3 Why was Plymouth important? The Mayflower Compact: set a precedent for constitutions and written documents about government Became an American tradition. Other settlers would follow the example leading to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut = the first Constitution followed the example of the Mayflower Compact

Importance #4 Why was Plymouth important? Led to the growth of 4 New England Colonies that would be based on religion. Success of Plymouth led more Puritan settlers to come to these places.