So, how did this colony thing work? Chapter 2

England Explores America John Cabot explored the east coast of North America & claimed it for England Searching for a northern water route through North America to Asia (Northwest Passage) Wanted outposts in N.A. to launch naval operations against the Spanish in the Caribbean.

Why England Colonizes Protestant Reformation Anglican Church (not Catholic anymore, but keeps the same doctrine and traditions) Puritans want to “purify” England’s church of all Catholic elements Puritans share Calvinist beliefs (the people of the church pick the leaders of that church, not the king) Direct challenge to the king’s authority

England’s 1st Colony Sir Walter Raleigh builds 1st English settlement on Roanoke Island In modern day North Carolina Virginia Dare – 1st English child born in America He names the land “Virginia” to honor Queen Elizabeth – the “Virgin Queen” The colony was a failure- people just disappeared! This became known as the “Lost Colony”.

Jamestown 2nd colony built Built by the Virginia Company In modern day Virginia Named after King James I Built by the Virginia Company Joint-stock company To make a profit off trade

Jamestown Has Problems Location – Too close to sea – swampy and swarming w/ malaria-carrying mosquitoes Colonists Most were townspeople and had no idea how to live in the wilderness (hunt, farm, etc.) Upper-class “gentlemen” refused to do manual labor Governing council argued constantly – could not make decisions

Hard Times 1608 – there were 200 settlers in Jamestown By the end of the year only 53 colonists were still alive John Smith begins trading w/ the local Indians (Powhatan Confederacy) Saved the remaining colonists and helped them through the first two winters

Starving Time 1609 – 400 new settlers come to Jamestown Creates food crisis w/ winter approaching John Smith already back in England Settlers b/g to steal food from the Indians Indians b/g to attack settlers Starving Time  Winter of 1609-1610 Settlers ate dogs, rats, frogs, etc Some even engaged in cannibalism Spring 1610 only 60 settlers left

Tobacco Saves the Colony John Rolfe Learned to grow tobacco, sold it cheap Jamestown was saved by the crop Rolfe was actually the man who met & married the local native princess Pocahontas This alliance will also help to make the colony a success