A Colony in the Chesapeake Bay Area

U.S. HistoryChapter 2.1

I. The English pattern of conquest

a. Based pattern on their treatment of Irishb. 1500’s Reformation caused divisions between Catholics and Protestantsc. Bitter feelings “spill over” to coloniesd. Conquest was all or nothing for English

1. No blending of people2. No assimilation into European culture

II. Roanoke: a disastrous beginning

a. 1560’s-1570’s England looks toward America; send explorersb. 1580’s want to establish permanent settlement in America

1. Wanted bases closer to enemies- the Spanish2. Further exploration

c. 1587, Sir Walter Raleigh established colony on Roanoke Island (Outer Banks)d. Efforts were disastrous

1. Colony/people disappear 2. No survivors found3. Possibly blended with Croatan people

The Lost Colony of Roanoke

Sir Walter Raleigh

III. Jamestown settlement

a. English wait 20 years before trying to establish a new colony in America

1. Settlement established at mouth of James River

i. Conditions bad (mosquitoes, swamps)

Map by John Smith

2. Named Jamestown-honor King James; Virginia in honor of Queen Elizabeth 3. Colony started as joint-stock company-Virginia Company

i. Investorsii. Wanted share of profits from colony

Queen Elizabeth I

King James

b. Native American reaction1. English wanted peaceful relations with Native Americans

i. However, did intend to use Native American laborii. Natives would not consentiii. Natives attacked English

2. Native Americans recognized authority of the Pamunkey people and their leader Powhatan3. English assured Native Americans their intentions concerning the area were good4. Powhatan distrustful due to brother’s experiences with the Spanish

i. Both despise goals of settlersii. Threat to their way of life

Powhatan vs. Powhatan

c. The settler’s hardships1. First Jamestown settlers almost didn’t survive2. October 1609-March 1610 called The Starving Time3. Natives provided food and water to settlement4. Disease claimed many settlers lives

Cannibalism in Jamestown

d. The reasons behind Jamestown’s hardships

1. Virginia Company was poorly managed2. 1618 attempt at colonial government by Sir Edwin Sandys (treasurer)3. House of Burgess established

House of Burgesses

4. Too little, too latei. Situation in colony does not improve, so King James dissolved Virginia Company (charter) makes Jamestown a royal colony

Virginia Charter 1609

5. Settlers expectations too high for colony.

i. Many wanted immediate wealth, especially at the

cost of others

6. John Smith (leader) eventually mandates work will be performed by every survivor

Edwin Sandys John Smith

e. Relations between Native Americans and the English

1. An uneasy alliance is formed between English and Native

Americans2. Trading occurred, but was

sometimes violenti. Lack of cultural understanding causes many issues

3. March 1622-Jamestown attacked by Opechanconough [oh-pech-uh n-kah-noh]-was partially successful

i. Many natives and settlers killed in subsequent attacks

4. Eventually, Native Americans agreed to turn over land to the English

i. Many leave Chesapeake region

Opechanconough

IV. The tobacco colony

a. Savior of the colony-tobacco1. John Rolfe was instrumental in the English trade2. Tobacco became foundation of Jamestown colony – eventually Maryland

John Rolfe

Pocahontas

b. Indentured servants supply labor1. This was the main source of

labor in the early colony2. Many were promised land after their indenture,

i. few lived to collectii. Best land was already

takeniii. Cost of establishing farms or plantations was high

c. Bacon’s Rebellion1. 1600’s life expectancy low and life was extremely hard2. Colonists adapt over time, driving Native Americans farther to the West3. Governor/government catered to the wealthy plantation

owners needs, leaving Western frontier in peril.

4. Nathaniel Bacon (1676) small-time planter takes matters into his own hands

i. Used unauthorized force to drive the Native Americans even farther West.ii. Governor used force to try and stop the rebellioniii. Bacon and his followers attacked Jamestowniv. Bacon’s unexpected death ended the rebellion

Nathaniel Bacon

5. Control of Virginia and Maryland remained in the hands of wealthy planters

i. Wealthy planters decided that slaves were more trustworthy than indentured servants (who had participated in the rebellion)

ii. Chesapeake Bay area – moved from Native American stronghold to wealthy plantations

Bacon's Rebellion