English Settlers Arrive in Jamestown

Background Before settlers arrive in Jamestown England and Spain are rivals Sinking of the Spanish Armada Lost colony at Roanoke Island (1586) April 26, 1607 3 English ships settle in Jamestown-60 miles inland of the Chesapeake Bay on the James River (names for the King) Virginia was named for Elizabeth I (“The Virgin Queen”) Jamestown-1st permanent English settlement in the New World

England’s Social Crisis In the late 16th century, England had a “surplus” of population. Why? Population grows from 3 million in 1550 to 4 million in 1600 Enclosure Movement “Push/Pull” factors forced thousands of people to look for work in the cities By the end of the 17th century, half the population lived at or below the poverty line.

How does the government address the issue of poverty? Unemployed were known as “Mastlerless Men” Under Henry VIII, they were whipped, branded, hung, or forced into the army. Between 1607 and 1700, half a million people leave England Most settle in Virginia Most popular cash crop was tobacco

Why do the English choose the New World? Chance to become a national power Rid the New World of Spanish influence Rid the New World of Roman Catholicism Tremendous Anti-Pope feelings in England Chance for religious minorities (Puritans, Pilgrims to worship without government interference Chance to make money Chance for ordinary men and women to escape inequality Access to land English settle in the middle part of North America

Settling in Jamestown First leader is John Smith Original goal was to search for gold “Starving Time” First winter, half of the settlers die “Starving Time” teaches them how to farm, abandon search for gold, and find a marketable commodity (cash crop) Powhatan Indians teach settlers how to farm and survive

Colonial Government To the English, land was the most valuable commodity Establish headwright system 50 acres of land to any colonist who paid for his own passage Leads to the **Virginia House of Burgesses(1619)** Was HOB democratic? Only landowning men could vote Governor/company could nullify any measure adopted Why is HOB important? First attempt at democratic, colonial governments

Indentured Servitude Cash crops required tremendous labor Those that could pay arrived as free persons However, 2/3 of English settlers came as indentured servants Indentured servants surrendered their freedom for a specific amount of time in exchange for passage to America Indentured servants could be: Bought and sold Could not marry without permission of their owner Subject to physical punishment Saw obligation to labor enforced by the courts Female servants had service time lengthened if they became pregnant

From Servitude to Slavery Why did Indentured Servitude fail? Weather Indentured Servants remained poor Did not always have access to the best land “Rejection of hard labor by indentured servants leads to the importation of slaves** Why did plantation owners prefer slavery? **Slave for life** **Immunity to diseases** Used to hard labor Not protected by English law

English viewed slaves as property During 17th century, slavery was a major international business Tobacco, sugar, rice, coffee required intense labor First slaves arrive after 1619 By 1700, 10% of Virginia’s population was black By 1750, 50% of population was black 1705, HOB passed a new slave law Slaves were property Slaves were completely subjected to the will of their masters Could be bought, sold, leased, fought over in court, passed onto master’s descendants Between 1492 and 1820, 7.7 million slaves were transported to New World

A Tobacco Colony King James I considered tobacco “harmful to the brain and dangerous to the lungs” Tobacco was very popular in Europe Tobacco was introduced by John Rolfe in place of gold 1624- over 200,000 pounds grown 1664-15 million pounds