1. First Permanent English Colony in America
Jamestown
First Permanent English Colony in America

2. How were colonies created?
Permission to settle had to be given by the king - James I
Charters were given to merchants (businessmen)
A charter is the right to organize settlements in an area

3. The Virginia Company
Received a charter from James I to settle the area of Virginia
The Virginia Company was a joint-stock company
Investors bought stock (part ownership) in the company
The investors would get back a part of any future profits

4. Discussion Break Who was the king? What is a charter?
What is a joint-stock company?
What company started Jamestown?

5. The Voyage
December, 1606
144 settlers in 3 ships (Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery)
Supposed to look for gold and establish trade in fish and furs
40 died during the voyage

6. Susan
Constant
Discovery
Godspeed

7. Arrival
April, ships enter Chesapeake Bay and sailed up the James River
Built Jamestown on a peninsula
Pro: Could be defended from attack
Con: Swampy land had mosquitoes that carried disease
Con: No good farmland
Many not accustomed to hard labor
Spent time looking for gold and silver, rather than growing food
By spring of 1608, only 38 original colonists were still alive

8. Discussion Break
What were the names of the ships colonists sailed in to Virginia?
Why were the colonists sent?
How many died on the voyage?
When did they arrive?
Where did they settle?
What were the pros and cons of this location?
How many survived the first year?

9. Captain John Smith 27 years old Experienced soldier and explorer
Forced settlers to work or go hungry
Established trade with Chief Powhatan

10. The Starving Time How bad was it? Winter of 1609-1610 No strong leader
Colony could not feed all the people
Fighting broke out with Native Americans
New arriving settlers found only 60 survivors
How bad was it?
Settlers ate dogs, cats, & horses
Fresh graves were robbed for food
One man murdered his wife to eat her

11. Discussion Break
Who was John Smith and why was he important to Jamestown?
What was the Starving Time?

12. Change of Fortunes - Tobacco
John Rolfe - Used tobacco seeds from the West Indies to start a new crop
First crop sold in England in 1614
Rolfe marries Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan, improving relations
Colonists began planting private farms - created competition and harder work
Colonists that paid their own way received 100 acres
Headright (land grant of 50 acres + 50 acres for each family member over 15 and servants) encouraged thousands to come to Virginia

13. Discussion Break Who introduced tobacco to Jamestown?
How did tobacco help Jamestown?
What changed about farming in Jamestown?
How did the Virginia Company encourage settlement?

14. Pocahontas
Birth of Matoaka, nicknamed Pocahontas (“little plaything"). She is the oldest daughter of the powerful Indian leader, Powhatan.
She “saves” Captain John Smith from execution.
Pocahontas captured by the English captain Samuel Argyll.
Pocahontas converts to Christianity, takes the name Rebekah
Marries John Rolfe, and their son, Thomas, is born the next year.
Pocahontas travels to England as the "Indian Princess”
She dies, and is buried at Gravesend.

15. The different faces of Pocahontas

16. Discussion Break
Who was Pocahontas and why was she important to Jamestown?
Name some key facts about Pocahontas.
Give at least five differences between the movies and the real Pocahontas.

17. First Representative Government
Settlers were under strict rules from the Virginia Co. in London
Co. agreed to let the colonists have some say
10 towns sent 2 representatives called burgesses to an assembly
House of Burgesses met to make local laws for the colony

18. Growth of the Colony 1619 - 90 women sent to Jamestown
Men had to pay a fee of 120 pounds of tobacco to marry one of these women
Families begin to grow
Dutch ship brings first Africans to North America
May have been servants, not slaves
Worked in tobacco fields
Many were free and owned property
Slavery was first recognized in the 1660’s

19. End of the Charter
The Virginia Company had invested most of its money into Jamestown with little profit
Colony was attacked by Native Americans
King James canceled their charter and Jamestown becomes the first royal colony for England in America

20. Native Americans Near Jamestown (13 Colonies p. 22-24)
Leader:
How do they get food:
What do they think about Europeans?
Relationship with John Smith:

21. Discussion Break
What was the first representative government in the American colonies? When was it formed?
Name a fact about women in Jamestown.
Identify key information about the first Africans in America.
Key relationships between Woodland Indians and the Europeans.