First English Settlements
Jamestown (1607)
• Founded by VA Company of London as a business venture
• Complete Failure at First– Bad Sanitation
(disease)– Native American
Attacks– People refused to do
work
John Smith
• Leader who made changes in colony to ensure survival
• “He that shall not work, shall not eat”
Jamestown
• Saved by the introduction of tobacco by John Rolfe
• Tobacco became the first profitable cash crop in America
Jamestown
• 1619 signs of success at Jamestown– First women– First slaves– First elected
legislature (VA House of Burgess)
Bacon’s Rebellion
• Cavaliers in Western VA needed protection from Indians
• VA Governor refused to protect them
• Nathaniel Bacon put together an army to fight Indians
Bacon’s Rebellion
• Embarrassed Gov gathered army to stop Bacon
• Bacon attacked and burned Jamestown
Plymouth (1620)
• Settled by the Puritans (pilgrims) from England
• They were seeking religious freedom in America
Mayflower Compact
• First document for government in New World
• Established “covenant community” – governed by themselves
• One man, one vote direct democracy• All issues debated and voted on at town
hall meetings• NO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN
PLYMOUTH
Salem Witch Trials
• Puritans accused dissenters of being witches
• Dissenters put on trial
• Many were hung, drowned, and burned
• Months later, Puritans realized that it all was a lie