Jamestown
Creation of Jamestown
Some European countries, including England, competed to increase their wealth and power by expanding their empires to America.
The King of England granted a charter to the Virginia Company of London, allowing them to establish a settlement.
Reasons for English Colonization of America
England wanted to establish an American colony to increase its wealth and power and compete with other nations
England hoped to find silver, gold, and raw materials in America
England would have increased trade opportunities
Jamestown
Jamestown was founded mainly to make profit
The Virginia Company of London provided the money for establishing Jamestown
Jamestown, founded in 1607, became the first permanent English settlement in North America
Reasons for Choosing to Establish a Settlement at Jamestown
The location could be easily defended from attack by sea
The water along the shore was deep enough for ships to dock
There were natural resources in the area including timber and iron
Virginia System of Government
Virginia System of Government
The Virginia General Assembly included two representatives, called burgesses, from each of the divisions of Virginia, along with the governor’s council and the governor
They met to write laws
At that time, only certain free adult men could participate in government
It was elected and gave some settlers the opportunity to take part in their own government
House of Burgesses
By the 1640s, the burgesses became a separate legislative body, called the House of Burgesses
They met separately from the governor’s council as one of the two parts of the General Assembly
The Settlers of Jamestown
Diversity in Virginia Colonies
Portuguese sailors captured African men and women and brought them to Virginia against their will in 1619
The arrival of Africans made it possible to expand the tobacco economy
The arrival of more women in 1620 made it possible for settlers to start more families
Hardships Faced by the Settlers
The site they chose to live on was swampy and didn’t have safe drinking water
There was a drought that reduced the amount of food available
The settlers didn’t have some skills necessary to provide for themselves
Many settlers died of starvation and disease
Changes that Resulted in Survival
Ships arrived bringing supplies and new settlers
Captain John Smith was a strong leader of the settlers
New settlements developed that spread away from the unhealthy environment of Jamestown
How the Natives Helped
The native peoples traded food, fur, and leather with the English in exchange for tools, pots, and copper for jewelry
Powhatan, a native chief, taught the settlers survival skills
Pocahontas, the daughter of Powhatan, helped communicate between the native peoples and the English
The native peoples showed the settlers how to plant corn and tobacco
Over time, the native peoples realized the English settlement would continue to grow and would eventually take over the native peoples’ land.