1. JAMESTOWN

2. THE VIRGINIA COMPANY
King James I granted the Virginia Company (a joint-stock company… group of wealthy investors) a charter in 1606 to create an English colony in the new world.
Wanted to stop the spread of Spanish colonies, find passage to Asia.
Wanted money from gold, fish, and furs (made clothing from animal fur).
144 settlers sailed into Chesapeake Bay in April of 1607.
Named Jamestown Island after King James.

3. Chesapeake Bay

4. PROBLEMS IN JAMESTOWN No gold or riches. Disease and hunger.
Survived first two years because of John Smith (colonists worked, ties with the Powahatan tribe).
1609-Smith was injured and returned to England and the Powahatan stopped providing food (“The Starving Time”).

5. Success at Jamestown More colonists arrived.
Started to grow tobacco (discovered by John Rolfe in 1612) along the James River.
Relations improved with Powahatan.
Gave headrights (legal grant of land) to settlers.
House of Burgesses (July 30, 1619)—first representative government in new world (elected by people, democracy)
22 Burgesses (representatives) representing 11 plantations (settlements)
Only white, property owning men allowed to serve and vote.

6. What happened to Jamestown?
Grew in size but NO money
1624 the King took away the charter
Became a royal colony.