JamestownJamestown

English Interest in ColonizationEnglish Interest in Colonization

1)1) Privateers wanted a base in the Americas Privateers wanted a base in the Americas from which they could attack the Spanishfrom which they could attack the Spanish

2)2) Europeans still sought a Northwest PassageEuropeans still sought a Northwest Passage

3)3) English merchants wanted new marketsEnglish merchants wanted new markets

4)4) Some of the English thought their homeland Some of the English thought their homeland was becoming too crowdedwas becoming too crowded

(1606) English rulers decide not to fund (1606) English rulers decide not to fund the risky venture of colonizationthe risky venture of colonization Instead, businessmen got a Instead, businessmen got a chartercharter, or , or

certificate of permission, from the kingcertificate of permission, from the king Allowed them to form a Allowed them to form a joint-stock companyjoint-stock company, or a , or a

company funded and run by a group of investors company funded and run by a group of investors who share in the profits and losseswho share in the profits and losses

Named the Virginia CompanyNamed the Virginia Company

The Jamestown SettlementThe Jamestown Settlement

(1607) Virginia (1607) Virginia Company sent about Company sent about 100 colonists to 100 colonists to VirginiaVirginia Started a settlement near Started a settlement near

the James River the James River (Chesapeake Bay region)(Chesapeake Bay region)

Named their settlement Named their settlement Jamestown after King Jamestown after King James IJames I

What are some issues you think the new What are some issues you think the new settlers could face when colonizing settlers could face when colonizing Jamestown? Jamestown?

The Settlers’ HardshipsThe Settlers’ Hardships

Unrealistic ExpectationsUnrealistic Expectations

Most settlers were not accustomed to manual laborMost settlers were not accustomed to manual labor Spent their time looking for goldSpent their time looking for gold Ignored the tasks necessary for survivalIgnored the tasks necessary for survival

The Settlers’ HardshipsThe Settlers’ Hardships

LocationLocation

Swamps and pools of standing water Swamps and pools of standing water disease-carrying disease-carrying mosquitoesmosquitoes dysentery, typhus, malaria dysentery, typhus, malaria

The Settlers’ HardshipsThe Settlers’ HardshipsConflict with Native AmericansConflict with Native Americans

Powhatan people dominated the Chesapeake regionPowhatan people dominated the Chesapeake region Native Americans were suspicious and wary of the English settlersNative Americans were suspicious and wary of the English settlers

The Settlers’ HardshipsThe Settlers’ Hardships

Poor LeadershipPoor Leadership Settlers constantly fought Settlers constantly fought

with one anotherwith one another John Smith emerged as a John Smith emerged as a

strong leader, yet he soon strong leader, yet he soon returned to Englandreturned to England

http://www.history.com/topics/jamestown/videos/pocahontas?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false

The Settlers’ HardshipsThe Settlers’ Hardships

StarvationStarvation Despite help from the Despite help from the

Virginia Company, the Virginia Company, the settlers suffered from settlers suffered from starvation and sickness starvation and sickness for nearly 10 yearsfor nearly 10 years Native Americans gave Native Americans gave

English settlers food and English settlers food and waterwater

The Starving Time The Starving Time

Back in England…Back in England…

Writers were Writers were publishing pamphlets publishing pamphlets calling Virginia a calling Virginia a “paradise”“paradise”

Encouraged people to Encouraged people to go, although many go, although many Europeans who Europeans who migrated to Virginia migrated to Virginia died shortly after died shortly after arrivingarriving

TobaccoTobacco

The growth of tobacco The growth of tobacco saved the Virginia saved the Virginia colonists from failing colonists from failing completelycompletely (1614) colonist John (1614) colonist John

Rolfe shipped tobacco to Rolfe shipped tobacco to EuropeEurope

It became very popular It became very popular and was soon the basis of and was soon the basis of the colony’s economythe colony’s economy

““Brown Gold”Brown Gold”

To cash in on the tobacco boom, settlers To cash in on the tobacco boom, settlers moved out of Jamestownmoved out of Jamestown Carved out plantations along the banks of nearby Carved out plantations along the banks of nearby

rivers so that they could transport their tobacco rivers so that they could transport their tobacco more easilymore easily

Labor SystemLabor System

The tobacco boom caused a need for more The tobacco boom caused a need for more laborerslaborers The promise of land encouraged many people to The promise of land encouraged many people to

migrate to Virginiamigrate to Virginia Headright systemHeadright system- each ‘head’, or person who came to - each ‘head’, or person who came to

the colony AND PAID WAY, was given fifty acres of the colony AND PAID WAY, was given fifty acres of landland

Labor SystemLabor System

Changes in England caused farmers to be Changes in England caused farmers to be landless and joblesslandless and jobless

Many wanted to sail to Virginia but could not Many wanted to sail to Virginia but could not afford the tripafford the trip Indentured servantsIndentured servants – people who agree to work – people who agree to work

for another person for a specified period of time, for another person for a specified period of time, under a contract, in return for transportation, food, under a contract, in return for transportation, food, and shelterand shelter

Labor SystemLabor System

Many indentured servants Many indentured servants were young, poor, and were young, poor, and unmarriedunmarried

Very few actually lived Very few actually lived through their service to through their service to claim their landclaim their land

More tobacco being More tobacco being planted… who else do you planted… who else do you think will be coming to the think will be coming to the colony?colony?

Labor SystemLabor System

Tobacco = currencyTobacco = currency Which do you think cost more to buy in 1600s, a Which do you think cost more to buy in 1600s, a

slave or an indentured servant?slave or an indentured servant?

The House of BurgessesThe House of Burgesses

1609 – New charter created to appoint a 1609 – New charter created to appoint a governorgovernor

1619- 1619- House of BurgessesHouse of Burgesses assembles for the assembles for the first timefirst time FIRST LEGISLATURE AND INSTANCE OF FIRST LEGISLATURE AND INSTANCE OF

SELF GOVERNMENT IN AMERICAN SELF GOVERNMENT IN AMERICAN COLONIESCOLONIES

1624 – Jamestown becomes ROYAL colony1624 – Jamestown becomes ROYAL colony

On a piece of paper On a piece of paper

What do you predict will happen now that What do you predict will happen now that Jamestown has become a Jamestown has become a royal colonyroyal colony? ?

Predict how the establishment of the House of Predict how the establishment of the House of Burgesses will impact colonial life in the years Burgesses will impact colonial life in the years to come. to come.

Conflict with Native Americans Conflict with Native Americans Growing Growing

Back and forth dynamic Back and forth dynamic By March 1622 – relationship break downBy March 1622 – relationship break down

Opechancanough attacks settlersOpechancanough attacks settlers 350 settlers killed 350 settlers killed Settlers retaliate Settlers retaliate

Bacon’s Rebellion Bacon’s Rebellion

Population grows… so size of colony?Population grows… so size of colony? Poor farmers (former indentured servants) pushing Poor farmers (former indentured servants) pushing

westward (think back to original triangle)westward (think back to original triangle) Clashing with NA over landClashing with NA over land HOWEVER – rich planters getting richer off HOWEVER – rich planters getting richer off

tobacco, they can buy more landtobacco, they can buy more land Governor William Berkeley appointed by king to Governor William Berkeley appointed by king to

serve the needs of rich planters serve the needs of rich planters

Bacon’s Rebellion Bacon’s Rebellion

Berkeley won’t support Berkeley won’t support farmers against NA raidsfarmers against NA raids 1676- Nathaniel Bacon (farmer) 1676- Nathaniel Bacon (farmer)

organizes army to fight NA organizes army to fight NA Berkeley declares him rebelBerkeley declares him rebel

Bacon burns JamestownBacon burns Jamestown Eventually dies = rebellion overEventually dies = rebellion over Sooooo why is this so important?? Sooooo why is this so important??

FORESHADOWING??? FORESHADOWING???