England Seeks Colonies England began to establish colonies in North America in the late 1500’s. The colonies were to provide new markets for English products and import raw materials.

England Seeks Colonies cont. Two of the earliest colonies took place in the 1580’s. Both were set up on a small island off North Carolina 1st- Set up on Roanoke Island in 1585 and was abandoned a year later.

England Seeks Colonies cont. The 2nd colony is one of America’s great mysteries. It was set up in 1587. The next year England went to war with Spain. No ship could get to the island until 1590. By then, the colony had disappeared with out a trace.

Founding Jamestown In 1607 the Virginia Company of London (wealthy) made an attempt to establish an English colony in the Americas. They were backed by King James I who granted them a charter. (charter- a document issued by the government, granting specific rights to a person or colony)

Founding Jamestown cont. The colonists barely survived their first year. ~Malaria ~They didn’t know how to farm ~Didn’t look for food In 1608 on 38 of the original 100 were still alive.

John Smith Takes Charge John Smith was sent from London to lead the Jamestown. Under his leadership, timber was cut, new buildings were made, crops were planted, and Native American villages were raided. “He who works not, eats not.”

Starving Time John Smith returned to London in 1609, after being injured. After his departure, Jamestown worsened. Native American relations worsened. Colonists ran out of food. By 1610, only 60 were left alive.

Jamestown Prospers The Virginia Company did not give up. House of Burgesses was set up based on a representative government. Met for the first time in 1619 to make laws and set taxes. 1619- Slaves started to arrive from Africa. (representative government: the form of government in which voters elect people to make laws for them)

The Plymouth Colony During the 1500’s in England, you could be punished for your religious beliefs. Separatists- a group of people who left England for Holland. They were still not happy there, so in 1620 a group of them decided to leave for Virginia. Pilgrim- a person who takes a religious journey.

The Mayflower Compact In Sept. 1620, about 100 pilgrims sailed for Virginia on the Mayflower. They were blown off course by a storm, and landed in Mass. They called their new home Plymouth. Before going ashore, they decided to make rules. The Mayflower Compact was the first document colonists used to claim a right to govern themselves.

The First Thanksgiving During the first winter, half of the colonists died. Squanto brought the Pilgrims seeds of native plants and showed them how to plant them. By fall of 1621, Pilgrims set aside a day to give thanks of their good fortune.