1. Building the Jamestown Colony
Roanoke & Jamestown
America’s 400th Anniversary

2. The First English Colony
Sir Walter Raleigh raised money to build a colony in America
Colonists landed on Roanoke, an island off the coast of present day North Carolina
Problems: quarrels with Indians and lack of food was a problem
When supplies ran low, John White (an original colonist) returned back to England to get help.
However, England was involved with in a war with Spain
Came back three years later to find an empty colony with only the word CROATAN on a tree.

3. Activity Possible Answers? Pick a name out of the hat.
Read the job of your person.
Why might settlers want to move to Jamestown?
Possible Answers?

4. Categories of Settlers at Jamestown
Title Number %
Council Members %
Preacher %
Gentleman %
Carpenters %
Blacksmiths %
Barber %
Bricklayer %
Tailor %
Laborers %
Surgeon %
Servants %

5. Jamestown Virginia Company granted a charter from King James I.
Charter – legal document giving rights to a company
Settled between present day North Carolina and the Potomac River (present day VA)
Problems: located in a swamp, water was unhealthy, mosquitoes spread malaria, council set to govern kept arguing and did not plan for future, faced starvation

6. Recovery for Jamestown
John Smith – forced citizens to plant crops if they wanted to eat, instead of digging for gold
Also set up relations with a nearby powerful Indian chief - Powhatan
Had good relations when John Rolfe married Pocahontas, Powhatan’s daughter
Seized the food of the Native Americans if necessary
Did not really improve until the colonists began growing tobacco

7. Representative Government
For a while, governors sent by the Virginia Company ran the colony like a military outpost.
No settlers wanted to move there.
To attract settlers, a new governor was ordered to consult with settlers on important matters.
Male settlers were allowed to elect burgesses – representatives to the government

8. Representative Government Cont’d
The burgesses met in an assembly called the House of Burgesses – made laws for the colony (Virginia)
House of Burgesses marked the beginning of representative government – voters elect representatives to make laws for them
At first, free Virginians had more rights that citizens of England. However, soon voting was restricted to free, white, male, property owners.

9. Concluding Activity
Turn to textbook page 92 and read the laws listed there.
With your partner, discuss and then write down why these laws were necessary.