Columbus finds the New World and claims it for Spain Columbian Exchange: New plants, animals, and diseases are introduced to New World and Old World. 1500’s Spain colonizes the Americas and builds a wealthy empire. The African slave trade begins. 1500’s Other European countries explore and colonize North America. 1600’s

1606: King James granted a charter to the Virginia Company to establish a colony in Virginia. 144 British colonists sailed to America and founded the colony of Jamestown in (40 died on the way) Their goals: to find GOLD and establish trade. Most of the colonists were “gentlemen”. (Gentlemen don’t work) Instead of growing food, most colonists searched for gold.

John Smith became the leader and made everyone work. He established a “Work or starve” policy

The Jamestown colonists had problems with Native Americans. The Jamestown colonists had problems with Native Americans. In one incident, Pocahontas, the daughter of the Indian chief, saved the life of John Smith. In one incident, Pocahontas, the daughter of the Indian chief, saved the life of John Smith.

1614: Problems with the Native Americans calmed down when Pocahontas married a colonist, John Rolfe. 1614: Problems with the Native Americans calmed down when Pocahontas married a colonist, John Rolfe. Pocahontas went to England with John Rolfe. She died there in Pocahontas went to England with John Rolfe. She died there in 1617.

Jamestown finally succeeded when the colonists began to grow tobacco. Jamestown finally succeeded when the colonists began to grow tobacco. Tobacco became a big hit in Europe but didn’t grow there. Tobacco became a big hit in Europe but didn’t grow there. Tobacco was a valuable cash crop. Tobacco was a valuable cash crop.

1 st permanent English colony in North America. Representative government (people elected representatives) Its success encouraged other colonists to come. African slaves arrived in 1619.

In England several groups of people were being persecuted for their religious beliefs. In England several groups of people were being persecuted for their religious beliefs. To persecute means to treat someone unfairly for their beliefs. To persecute means to treat someone unfairly for their beliefs. Some of the persecuted groups included Puritans, Separatists, & Quakers. Some of the persecuted groups included Puritans, Separatists, & Quakers.

In 1620 a group of Separatists decided to establish a colony in America so they could have religious freedom. They called themselves Pilgrims because their voyage had a religious purpose. They set sail on the Mayflower in September, 1620.

The Pilgrims intended to set up their colony in Virginia but the Mayflower was blown off course. The Pilgrims instead landed at Plymouth, near Cape Cod in what would later become Massachusetts.

Before going ashore, the Pilgrims signed an agreement called the Mayflower Compact, named after their ship. The Mayflower Compact was important because in it they agreed to establish a government and laws. It was an important step to establishing a representative government.

The Pilgrims faced a brutal first winter in Plymouth and half of them died from disease, malnutrition, and cold. In the spring of 1621, the Pilgrims were approached by a Native American named Squanto, who spoke English. Squanto and other Native Americans showed them how to grow corn, how to fish, and gather food.

With the help of Native Americans, a good leader named William Bradford, and hard work, the Plymouth Colony succeeded. Many other colonists later came to Massachusetts for religious freedom. So many came that it was called the Great Migration.

A flood of immigrants that came for religious freedom

Colonies at Jamestown and Plymouth succeed More colonists come for profit or religious freedom CAUSE EFFECT

Why they came? Money Religious freedom Who came? Single men families How they got along with Native Americans foughtfriendly Jamestown Plymouth

Jamestown Plymouth Good leaders John Smith William Bradford Starting out Starving Many died Funding Both were funded by the Virginia Company