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