The British settle in America Jamestown, 1607 Virginia The British settle in America Jamestown, 1607

Before Jamestown The English made an attempt to settle Virginia in 1585. This first colony was called Roanoke Island. This first attempt was a failure- all the colonist vanished. The christening of Virginia Dare- first baby born in Virginia

Financing a colony Joint-stock companies were created to get the money necessary to start a new colony. Companies backed by investors, who put money into a project to earn money or profits. Each investor has part ownership in the company.

Merchants formed two companies: Virginia Company of London and the Virginia Company of Plymouth. King James granted both companies a charter in 1606. A charter is a written contract giving the company the right to establish a colony.

Jamestown is Founded in 1607 Archaeological site of Jamestown. 1st permanent English settlement in America- the beginning of the 13 colonies that will become the United States.

Jamestown continued The Virginia Company of London sent 100 colonist to settle. Named the settlement Jamestown in honor of King James.

Hardships Jamestown was located on swampy land with lots of mosquitoes that carried malaria. Many became sick from the water. They were told there would be gold… Guess what? No gold!!! So instead of building houses and looking for food, they looked for gold.

More hardships “There were never Englishmen left in a foreign country in such misery as we were in this newly discovered Virginia” Summers were hot and humid, winters were bitter cold.

How will Jamestown survive? By January 1608, only 38 colonists were still alive. Too many had been interested in making their own fortune than working to establish a settlement. Captain John Smith, a colonist, will step up and take control. Disney’s version Real portrait of Captain John Smith

John Smith saves Jamestown John Smith’s motto: “He that will not work shall not eat”. He forced the colonist to work to build better housing and to build an outer wall to protect the settlement. He also persuaded the Powhatan tribe to trade their corn with the colonists. They also taught the colonists to farm.

Jamestown prospers? John Smith’s plan was working. By the spring of 1609 400 more settlers arrived in Jamestown. However, John Smith was injured and returned to England. This left the colonists without their strong leader. What might be the result of Smith leaving?

Starving time After Smith leaves, hard times hit again. By spring of 1610, only 60 colonists were still alive.

New leader John Rolfe was sent to be the new leader of the colony because it was failing to make investors any profit. He helped solved the problem by introducing tobacco. Tobacco was very popular in Europe.

War in Virginia Leader John Rolfe will marry, Pocahontas, a Powhatan chiefs daughter. This helps bring more peaceful relations between the Indians and the settlers. However, Pocahontas dies while visiting England

War in Virginia Peace won’t last long. Settlers don’t need the Indians for food anymore and want their land to grow tobacco. Raids will be lead to burn Indian villages and settlers are attacked. This goes on for almost 20 years.

Virginia becomes a royal colony The London company proved they could not handle the problems in Virginia. In 1624, Virginia became a royal colony under the authority of a governor chosen by the king.