Jamestown Colony
Motivation for Colony:
English settlers were hoping to make money by finding gold. The Virginia Company of London helped fund the trip with money from the king of England and wealthy English investors. Investors bought stocks in the company in the hope that the settlers would make money trading goods. Settlers set sail in 1606.
Where is the colony located?
English settlers arrived in present day Virginia.
Challenges
Unfortunately Jamestown was built on a marsh. Settlers did not know how to farm the land. The water near the settlement was dirty and salty. Humans could not drink it. Many of the settlers died due to lack of food and disease.
Early Relationship to Natives
Caption John Smith, who was in charge of Jamestown was captured by the Powhatan natives. Pocahontas, a young Powhatan, is believed to has saved his life, throwing herself in front of John Smith's captures. John Smith eventually developed a good relationship with the natives. The Powhatan's taught the settlers how to farm, hunt, and fish. John Smith told his settlers that if they did not work hard and follow the advice of the natives that they would not eat.
Colony Success
In 1612 John Rolfe arrived and learned from the natives how to grow tobacco. This became a huge cash crop for the settlers. Jamestown became very profitable. More and more people from England began to settle in Virginia. Settlers were given 50 acres of land to farm if they made the trip.
Government
The settlers of Virginia also began to elect representative to make laws for the colony. They called this group the House of Burgesses. Only wealthy landowners could secure a place in this House of Burgesses. This was a more democratic system than the English's monarchy.
Slaves
By 1619 the first African American slaves were brought to Virginia. These slaves were initially used as indentured servants. An indentured servant is someone who would agree to work for a number of years in exchange for a voyage to North America. After a predetermined number of years indentured servants would be released from their labor.
Later Relationship to Natives
The settlers continued to trade and work with the natives. It was only when the colony began to grow too large, that the Powhatans became upset. They felt that their land was being taken away. The Powhatans began to fight against the English settlers. John Rolfe married Pocahontas as a way to make peace. She even traveled to meet the King of England. Unfortunately, she died while in England and never returned home.
Legacy
The Jamestown colony became the first successful colony and inspired more people to move to North America.
English settlers were hoping to make money by finding gold. The Virginia Company of London helped fund the trip with money from the king of England and wealthy English investors. Investors bought stocks in the company in the hope that the settlers would make money trading goods. Settlers set sail in 1606.
Where is the colony located?
English settlers arrived in present day Virginia.
Challenges
Unfortunately Jamestown was built on a marsh. Settlers did not know how to farm the land. The water near the settlement was dirty and salty. Humans could not drink it. Many of the settlers died due to lack of food and disease.
Early Relationship to Natives
Caption John Smith, who was in charge of Jamestown was captured by the Powhatan natives. Pocahontas, a young Powhatan, is believed to has saved his life, throwing herself in front of John Smith's captures. John Smith eventually developed a good relationship with the natives. The Powhatan's taught the settlers how to farm, hunt, and fish. John Smith told his settlers that if they did not work hard and follow the advice of the natives that they would not eat.
Colony Success
In 1612 John Rolfe arrived and learned from the natives how to grow tobacco. This became a huge cash crop for the settlers. Jamestown became very profitable. More and more people from England began to settle in Virginia. Settlers were given 50 acres of land to farm if they made the trip.
Government
The settlers of Virginia also began to elect representative to make laws for the colony. They called this group the House of Burgesses. Only wealthy landowners could secure a place in this House of Burgesses. This was a more democratic system than the English's monarchy.
Slaves
By 1619 the first African American slaves were brought to Virginia. These slaves were initially used as indentured servants. An indentured servant is someone who would agree to work for a number of years in exchange for a voyage to North America. After a predetermined number of years indentured servants would be released from their labor.
Later Relationship to Natives
The settlers continued to trade and work with the natives. It was only when the colony began to grow too large, that the Powhatans became upset. They felt that their land was being taken away. The Powhatans began to fight against the English settlers. John Rolfe married Pocahontas as a way to make peace. She even traveled to meet the King of England. Unfortunately, she died while in England and never returned home.
Legacy
The Jamestown colony became the first successful colony and inspired more people to move to North America.
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