1. Jamestown

2. The Virginia Company, a joint-stock company, was granted a charter by King James I to found a colony on the eastern shores of North America.
Joint Stock Company = Modern Public Corporation
Investors pool money to serve as capital for company with possibility of profits for each
John Smith Leads first settlement group
Founding of Jamestown

3. Early Problems and Solutions
Colonists suffered from disease and lack of food because they only wanted to search for gold rather than plant crops or gather food.
Relationship with local Powhatan tribe not an easy one.
Pocahontas
Starving Time
Early Problems and Solutions

4. Solutions for Jamestown
John Smith persuaded the Powhatan people to provide food
The colonists slowly begin to work, and grow own food
John Smith had to return to England due to injury.
Solutions for Jamestown

5. New Leadership and Success
Jamestown began to flourish with new leaders who imposed strict discipline
John Rolfe
The development of the highly profitable tobacco crop saves the colony.
Headright system
Indentured servants
New Leadership and Success

6. Colonial Self Government
The New Leadership allows for the development of the House of Burgesses.
Representative assembly
Elected by landowners
Colonists govern themselves
Colonial Self Government

7. Labor Issues Former indentured servants…
No $ to buy land, can’t vote, NO rights
Have to move to frontier
Constantly battling Natives
Oppressed- high taxes, no protection from Native Americans
Sir William Berkely abused power & ignored needs of settlers
Labor Issues

8. Nathaniel Bacon (hates Natives) raises an army because House of Burgesses and Governor refuse to act
Angry that frontier colonists are NOT represented in House of Burgesses
Gov. Berkeley calls Bacon’s army “illegal” so Bacon sets fire to Jamestown
Exposed the growing power of the colony’s former indentured servants
Indentured servitude is outlawed
Slavery becomes dominant form of Labor
Wealthy try to get a tighter grip on their power
Rebellion