Jamestown

20 Years after Roanoke… Rich merchants wanted to try again Rich merchants wanted to try again Formed Joint-stock Company Formed Joint-stock Company Called it Virginia Company Called it Virginia Company

Back to the New World! 144 Settlers in 3 ships 144 Settlers in 3 ships 40 died en route 40 died en route Landed near a the Chesapeake Bay and the James river and built on a peninsula Landed near a the Chesapeake Bay and the James river and built on a peninsula Lack of good farmland, marshy and hot Lack of good farmland, marshy and hot

Jamestown

Building Timeline Jamestown founded April 1607 Jamestown founded April – New resupply ship arrives 38 colonists alive 1608 – New resupply ship arrives 38 colonists alive John Smith the leader for first 2 years John Smith the leader for first 2 years

Building… 1609 – 400 more settlers arrive to boost the colony 1609 – 400 more settlers arrive to boost the colony Winter of “The Starving Time” Winter of “The Starving Time” Spring alive Spring alive

Things get better… Colony taken from investors and made first Royal Colony Colony taken from investors and made first Royal Colony Tobacco becomes a huge cash crop Tobacco becomes a huge cash crop

First Democracy in Action! The House of Burgesses The House of Burgesses First form of Representative government in the Colonies First form of Representative government in the Colonies July 1619 July 1619

The Beginning of the Peculiar Institution Slaves brought to colony in 1640’s to work the tobacco fields Slaves brought to colony in 1640’s to work the tobacco fields