Setting up a Government Governing the colony was difficult The Virginia Company chose 13 men to rule the settlement. Members of the council argued with one another and didn’t plan for the future. By 1608 Jamestown was near failure!

John Smith saves the Colony! Smith set up stern rules that forced colonists to work if they wished to eat. He set up a trade with Indian Villages Powhatan, a powerful chief, agreed to sell corn to the English The colonist and Native Americans had a peaceful time together The Real John Smith Disney’s John Smith

House of Burgesses

The Roanoke Colony Partly from words from Richard Hakluyt and others, England ventured to establish a colony in the Americas. In 1584, with the permission of Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Walter Raleigh raised money to outfit a colony in North America. In 1585, 7 ships and about 100 men set sail across the Atlantic Ocean. The colonists landed on Roanoke, an island off the coast of present-day North Carolina

House of Burgesses: Settlers would elect other settlers to represent them “aka Burgesses” and those selected would beet in an assembly. Charter: Was a document legally developed giving certain rights and a company or a person. John Smith: A soldier (age 27) that would help to save the Jamestown colony from failing. Pocahontas: The daughter of an Indian chief (Powhatan) who brought food to starving colonists of Jamestown and would marry colonist John Rolfe. Parliament: The representative government of England. Representative Government: A government where voters elect representatives to make laws for them.

A Second Try Then, in 1587 John White, an original colonist, returned with a new group of English settlers, this time with women and children. When supplies ran low John White returned to England leaving behind 117 colonists. He didn’t return for three years due to England preparing for war with Spain.

Vanished When John White returned to Roanoke, he found the settlement deserted. The houses were empty, vines sprouting from the floor and windows. Strangely the word CROATOAN, the name of a nearby island, was carved on a tree. Due to a storm, John White was not able to sail to the island to investigate, and instead sailed back to England. To this day, the fate of Roanoke’s settlers remains a mystery.

Why did England want to set up a colony in the America’s? “If England possesses these places in America, Her Majesty will have good harbors, plenty of excellent trees for masts, good timber to build ships… All things needed for a royal navy, and all for no price.” - Richard Hakluyt To build a navy to conquer more land and stop the Spanish from conquering more of the Americas! Timber (wood) to build ships! Good harbors! Since it’s all “free” England will make lots of MONEY!!!

Make a CONNECTION! Representative government= where voters elect representatives to make laws for them. How is the United States government similar or different to the House of Burgesses? Based on the definition of Representative Government, make a connection to your own government.

Where’s the Gold? The colonists were not planting enough crops! They spent their time searching for gold, and ran out of food! Problem!!! There isn’t any gold in Virginia! The colonists only wanted to “…dig gold, wash gold, refine gold, load gold.” – John Smith 1608

Representative Government With the economy improving, the Virginia Company began to establish a stable government in Virginia. Male settlers elected Burgesses= representatives The burgesses met in an assembly called the House of Burgesses Together with the governor they made laws for the colony.

Tobacco and Economic Success! After 1612 the colonists began growing tobacco. Native Americans had introduced pipe smoking to Europeans and it became really popular. By 1620 England was importing more than 30,000 pounds of tobacco a year. Virginians had finally found a way to survive!

Disaster But soon things turned disastrous as the food ran short and the colonists began fighting with the Native Americans. The colonists loads a ship and went back home to England.

The Beginnings of Jamestown Colony Allows colonists to settle in a land called Virginia. Virginia London Company gets a charter from King James I. The charter guaranteed colonists of Virginia the same rights as English citizens.

A Difficult Start 1607, 105 colonists arrive in Virginia. They named their tiny outpost Jamestown after King James I. Jamestown was located in a swampy area. Mosquitoes Death! Malaria