Jamestown

English Explorers Before the 1600’s many English explorers sailed to the Americas Before the 1600’s many English explorers sailed to the Americas Tried to find Northwest Passage Tried to find Northwest Passage Privateers sailed to attack enemy ships Privateers sailed to attack enemy ships Sir Francis Drake Sir Francis Drake

English Interest in Colonization 1) Privateers wanted a base in the Americas from which they could attack the Spanish 2) Europeans still sought a Northwest Passage 3) English merchants wanted new markets 4) Some of the English thought their homeland was becoming too crowded

(1606) English rulers decide not to fund the risky venture of colonization (1606) English rulers decide not to fund the risky venture of colonization Instead, businessmen got a charter, or certificate of permission, from the king Instead, businessmen got a charter, or certificate of permission, from the king Allowed them to form a joint-stock company, or a company funded and run by a group of investors who share in the profits and losses Allowed them to form a joint-stock company, or a company funded and run by a group of investors who share in the profits and losses Named the Virginia Company Named the Virginia Company

The Jamestown Settlement (1607) Virginia Company sent about 100 colonists to Virginia (1607) Virginia Company sent about 100 colonists to Virginia Started a settlement near the James River (Chesapeake Bay region) Started a settlement near the James River (Chesapeake Bay region) Named their settlement Jamestown after King James I Named their settlement Jamestown after King James I

What are some issues you think the new settlers could face when colonizing Jamestown? What are some issues you think the new settlers could face when colonizing Jamestown?

The Settlers’ Hardships Conflict with Native Americans Powhatan people dominated the Chesapeake region Powhatan people dominated the Chesapeake region Native Americans were suspicious and wary of the English settlers Native Americans were suspicious and wary of the English settlers

The Settlers’ Hardships Unrealistic Expectations Most settlers were not accustomed to manual labor Most settlers were not accustomed to manual labor Spent their time looking for gold Spent their time looking for gold Ignored the tasks necessary for survival Ignored the tasks necessary for survival

The Settlers’ Hardships Location Swamps and pools of standing water  disease- carrying mosquitoes  dysentery, typhus, malaria Swamps and pools of standing water  disease- carrying mosquitoes  dysentery, typhus, malaria

The Settlers’ Hardships Starvation Despite help from the Virginia Company, the settlers suffered from starvation and sickness for nearly 10 years Despite help from the Virginia Company, the settlers suffered from starvation and sickness for nearly 10 years Native Americans gave English settlers food and water Native Americans gave English settlers food and water

The Settlers’ Hardships Poor Leadership Settlers constantly fought with one another Settlers constantly fought with one another John Smith emerged as a strong leader, yet he soon returned to England John Smith emerged as a strong leader, yet he soon returned to England

BACK IN ENGLAND… Writers were publishing pamphlets calling Virginia a “paradise” Writers were publishing pamphlets calling Virginia a “paradise” Encouraged people to go, although many Europeans who migrated to Virginia died shortly after arriving Encouraged people to go, although many Europeans who migrated to Virginia died shortly after arriving

Tobacco The growth of tobacco saved the Virginia colonists from failing completely The growth of tobacco saved the Virginia colonists from failing completely (1614) colonist John Rolfe shipped tobacco to Europe (1614) colonist John Rolfe shipped tobacco to Europe It became very popular and was soon the basis of the colony’s economy It became very popular and was soon the basis of the colony’s economy

To cash in on the tobacco boom, settlers moved out of Jamestown To cash in on the tobacco boom, settlers moved out of Jamestown Carved out plantations along the banks of nearby rivers so that they could transport their tobacco more easily Carved out plantations along the banks of nearby rivers so that they could transport their tobacco more easily

The tobacco boom caused a need for more laborers The tobacco boom caused a need for more laborers The promise of land encouraged many people to migrate to Virginia The promise of land encouraged many people to migrate to Virginia Headright system- each ‘head’, or person who came to the colony, was given fifty acres of land Headright system- each ‘head’, or person who came to the colony, was given fifty acres of land

Changes in England caused farmers to be landless and jobless Changes in England caused farmers to be landless and jobless Many wanted to sail to Virginia but could not afford the trip Many wanted to sail to Virginia but could not afford the trip Indentured servants – people who agree to work for another person for a specified period of time, under a contract, in return for transportation, food, and shelter Indentured servants – people who agree to work for another person for a specified period of time, under a contract, in return for transportation, food, and shelter

Many indentured servants were young, poor, and unmarried Many indentured servants were young, poor, and unmarried Very few actually lived through their service to claim their land Very few actually lived through their service to claim their land