Jamestown Colony

Jamestown Colony

First Successful English Colony in

the New World

Reasons for English Colonization

● England wanted to establish an American colony

to increase her wealth and power.

● By finding silver and gold in America

● By providing a source of raw materials

● Would open new markets for trade.

Why Settlers Came to Jamestown

■ Jamestown was primarily an economic venture.

■ The stockholders of the Virginia company of

London financed the settlement of Jamestown.

Jamestown became the first permanent

English settlement in north America in 1607.

When the settlers first arrived, Jamestown

was located on a narrow peninsula
bordered on three sides by the James
River. Today Jamestown is located on
an island in the James River.

Jamestown

Location of Jamestown

Site of the Jamestown Colony

Reasons for the Location of Jamestown

1.

The location could be
easily defended from
attack by sea by the
Spanish.

2.

The water along the
shore was deep enough
for ships to dock.

3.

Believed to be a good
supply of fresh water.

Virginia Charters

■ The King of England

granted charters to the
Virginia Company of
London.

■ A charter is a document

issued by a government
authority.

Importance of the Virginia Charters

■ The charters gave the Virginia Company the

right to establish a settlement in North America.

■ The first charter of the Virginia Company of

London established companies to begin colonies
in the New World.

■ The charters extended English rights to

the colonists.

Jamestown: The Growth of
Government

■ In 1619, the governor of

Virginia called a
meeting of the Virginia
Assembly.

■ By the 1640s, the

burgesses became a
separate legislative body,
called the Virginia
House of Burgesses.

Virginia House of Burgesses

■ The Virginia house of

burgesses was the first
elected legislative body in
America giving settlers the
opportunity to control their
own government.

■ It became the General

Assembly of Virginia, which
continues to this day.

Women Come to Jamestown

■ The first women settlers

came Jamestown in 1620.

■ The arrival of women

made it possible for the
settlers to establish
families and a more
permanent settlement at
Jamestown.

Africans Come to Jamestown

■ Africans arrived in

Jamestown against their will
in 1619.

■ It is believed that they arrived

as baptized Christians and
therefore were labeled
indentured servants for a
period of 5 to 7 years.

■ The arrival of Africans made

it possible to expand the
tobacco economy.

Hardships Faced By Settlers

■ The site they chose to live

on was marshy and
lacked safe drinking
water.

■ The settlers lacked some

skills necessary to provide
for themselves.

■ Many settlers died of

starvation and disease.

Changes That Ensured Survival

■ The arrival of two

supply ships.

■ The forced work

program and strong
leadership of
Captain John Smith

■ The emphasis on

self-sustaining
agriculture ensured
survival of the
colony.

Captain John Smith

■ As leader of the

Jamestown Colony he
helped to restore order
with one simple rule “He
that will not work, will not
eat.”

■ He also initiated trading

relationships with the
Powhatan Indian tribes
lead by Chief Powhatan.

■ However, due to an injury

he left the colony to return
to England in 1609.

Trade With The Powhatan Indians

■ The Powhatans

traded food, furs and
leather with the
English.

■ The English traded

tools, pots, guns and
other goods with the
Powhatans.

Pocahontas

■ Pocahontas, daughter of

Chief Powhatan, believed
the English and
American Indians could
live in harmony.

■ Pocahontas began a

friendship with the
colonists that helped them
survive.

Powhatans – Corn and Tobacco

■ The Powhatans introduced new crops to

the English, including corn and
tobacco.

Powhatans & Jamestown:
Growing Conflict

■ The Colonists began stealing and attempting to

intimidate the Indians.

■ The Powhatans realized the English settlement

would continue to grow and saw the colonists as
invaders that would take over their land.

Multiple Choice

Who helped restore order to the Jamestown colony with one simple rule " He that will not work, will not eat"

• Captain John Smith

• Powhatan

• Pocahontas

Multiple Choice

What made it possible to expand the tobacco economy?

• The arrival of women

• The arrival of additional men

• The arrival of Africans

Multiple Choice

Who financed the settlement of Jamestown?

• The King of England

• Captain John Smith

• The stockholders of the Virginia Company of London

Multiple Choice

What two crops did the Powhatans introduce to the English?

• corn and beans

• corn and tobacco

• beans and squash

Multiple Choice

Why did the English want to establish an American colony?

• to increase wealth and power

• to have a place to travel

• to find new people

Multiple Choice

What did the charters extend to the Jamestown colonists?

• American rights

• English rights

• African rights

Multiple Choice

What effect did the arrival of women at Jamestown have on the colony?

• establish families

• make a more permanent settlement

• all of the above

Multiple Select

What were three reasons for the location of the Jamestown colony?

• The location could be easily defended from attack by sea by the Spanish.

• The water along the shore was deep enough for ships to dock.

• Believed to be a good supply of fresh water.

• The land was flat to build a colony.

• There were many trees available to build homes.

Multiple Select

What hardships were faced by the Jamestown colonists?

• They began to fight among themselves.

• The site they chose was marshy and lacked safe drinking water.

• The settlers lacked necessary skills to provide for themselves.

• Many of the settlers died of starvation and disease.

• Many settlers decided to return to England.