1. Introduction to James Town

2. Introduction
Essential Question: How did Spain’s success in Mexico drive the desire to fund and create a colony in North America?

3. Opener Who is this literary figure?
What famous tobacco company is still based out of Virginia?

4. The Virginia Company
Was a private joint- stock company that started the Colony of Virginia in 1607.
Chartered by King James I
2 goals the colony hoped to achieve was
A. Mine for gold and silver ( as what was discovered in Central America)
B. find a route to the pacific ocean.

5. Settlement at Jamestown
First permanent British settlement in North America.
Located along a peninsula along the James River
area was very swampy and not very good for growing regular crops.
Many people coming to Jamestown were expecting to find precious gems and metals.

6. Leaders of Jamestown
John Smith: The first leader of Jamestown. In order to keep the colony afloat, he instituted harsh policies such as if you do not work, you do not eat. Was instrumental in keeping Jamestown from crumbling early on.
John Rolfe: Married a Powhatan names Pocahontas. Was instrumental in learning tobacco farming.
John Smith John Rolfe

7. Relations with Indians
Early settlers had disputes with local Powhatan tribes.
Initially the Powhatan had made peace with Europeans and saw them as allies and good trading partners.
However war broke out during 1609 during the starving period, in the Powhatan made peace with the colonists.
In 1624, the colony became a royal colony, coming under direct supervision of a king’s representative.

8. The rise of Tobacco
At the same time, John Rolfe Learned how to farm tobacco.
Because of the need for a long hot and humid growing season, Virginia was an ideal location for growing tobacco.
Cash Crop: a crop produced for its commercial value rather than for use by the grower.
Tobacco soon became a major source of revenue for the crown and the colonists.

9. Headright system and Indentured Servitude
The success of Tobacco as a cash crop soon motivated many British settlers to come to America in hopes of achieving success.
The Virginia Company starting in 1619 offered free land to anyone who purchased passage to the New World. This is called the headright system
Many people also engaged in a practice of indentured servitude: People agreed to work in exchange for room and board and at the end of their contract would be rewarded with land of their own.

10. House of Burgesses
In 1619, the Virginia Company granted the colonists a representative body.
The House of Burgesses was the first colonial government in North America.
Some of the powers of the body were to make laws and raise taxes.
In 1624, the colony became a royal colony, coming under direct supervision of a king’s representative.